Seoul worries about fungus on U.S. oranges

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- South Korea is increasing quarantine inspections of U.S. oranges after officials found such items contaminated by a fungus.

The National Plant Quarantine Service said its agents will inspect up to three times the current number of sample fruit as it currently checks, the Chosun Ilbo reported Monday.

The fungus is not harmful to humans, but the authority fears it could contaminate local citrus crops, the NPQS said Sunday.

"We found the fungus in 35 out of 3,048 cases we checked last year, and in 54 out of 5,802 this year, so we have strengthened our inspection measures to ensure safety," the agency said.