Edmonton’s battle against Dutch elm disease has expanded again, with the city confirming four new cases of the deadly fungal infection.
The total caseload is now up to 14 since Dutch elm was initially reported in Edmonton two years ago, the city said in a Saturday new release.
Half of those infections have come in the last two weeks, including some cases outside the original protocol area where the disease was first discovered on the city’s north side.
“The trees were identified by city crews through a visual inspection. Test results confirmed the disease, and the trees will be removed as part of the ongoing efforts to contain the spread,” the news release said. “Prompt tree removal is essential to maintaining the health and safety of the urban forest.”
After decades of successfully keeping Dutch elm disease out of the city, the first four cases showed up in August 2024 on Edmonton’s north side, in the Killarney neighbourhood and adjacent Yellowhead corridor. A fifth case was found in October of that year in the same area.
There were two new cases reported in 2025, both in the same general vicinity of the original infections. One was found in July of that year in the Alberta Avenue community, and another in November in Glengarry.
No new cases were then reported for more than seven months, raising hopes that the city was winning the battle against the spread. But then on July 14 this year, city issued a news release on the discovery of two more cases — one in Northmount a little north of the original infection area, but another much further south in the river valley community of Rossdale.
A 10th infection was announced on July 22 in Calder, about three kilometres west of the first cases.
Of the four latest infections, two were located in Glengarry, and two more in Rossdale.
The City of Edmonton has updated its protocol areas, marked in blue, to reflect the discovery of four new cases of Dutch elm disease in August 2026.
After each new confirmed case, the city marks a one-kilometre radius around the site to allow for heightened monitoring, assessments and tree maintenance.
The city says there are about 90,000 publicly owned elms in Edmonton, representing about 22 per cent of its open space and boulevard tree inventory. Dutch elm disease is most commonly spread by bark beetles moving from tree to tree, which is why the city immediately removes infected trees along with any elms within 20 metres.
Edmontonians can help stop the spread by not transporting firewood into the city from other locations, and by respecting the ban on pruning elm trees between April 1 and September 30.
Elm debris caused by recent storms should also be removed promptly. That wood should be disposed of by burning it or taking it to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. It should not be placed in residential green bins with food scraps or other organic waste.
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