Colombia has denied being affected by the fungus Fusarium Raza 4 (TR4), after claims indicating otherwise started circulating on various media platforms.

According to the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), there is no official information to support a finding of this disease in any of the country's banana plantations.

The institution told PortalFrutícola.com that the rumors have likely arisen from confusion. Though the entity carries out prevention campaigns against the fungus, it has not been detected in the nation.

Elaborating, the ICA indicated that they carried out preventive work at the airport in Bogota.

Its prevention measures also covered African swine fever, among other things. It added that this situation is probably why the misinformation about the fungus would have emerged.

The institute said it examined several samples and held training workshops with producers in order to best avoid the fungus..

However, it stressed that there is no official information on any possible outbreak; the ICA commented that it had only launched its prevention campaign to best spread knowledge. This way, it believes the entry of the disease into the country can be prevented.

The institution took these preventative measures due in part to its understanding that such diseases are transnational.

TR4, better known as Panama disease, is a disease caused by a fungus. The fungus attacks the roots of banana crops. What's more, it can remain in the soil for up to 40 years. This in turn creates a complex scenario for the cultivation of the category.

Colombia is a country often highlighted for its history with this crop. So the disease is constantly being monitored by the country's banana authorities and associations.