Lethal Yellowing Spreads in Florida

Many of Naples' palm trees are in danger of lethal yellowing infection.

An outbreak of the deadly tree disease lethal yellowing is killing trees in Naples, Florida according to the city's NBC affiliate.

Twelve coconut palms have been diagnosed with lethal yellowing over the last two weeks. New cases are indicators that the disease continues to thrive. Experts say that people need to take precautions before all of the palms in the area are infected.

The disease is spread by insects called "leaf hoppers." 

Nearly 200 trees in Naples alone have been cut down because of lethal yellowing over the last few months.

According to officials, tall coconut palms, date palms and Christmas palms are at the greatest risk of being infected.