Dutch elm has been infecting trees in the area for mover 50 years, but the stress of the summer 2005 drought has made elm trees more susceptible to the disease, said village Landscape Architect Tom Kusmerz.

Dutch elm is a fungal disease afflicting elm trees. The disease is caused by the Asian elm bark beetle. It has surfaced in several Hawthorn Woods residences recently, prompting village officials to launch an educational campaign for citizen to identify whether or not their elms are infected.

?EUR??,,????'??This is a serious threat. We could lose thousands of trees in the village and that could have a significant effect on the village as a whole,?EUR??,,????'?? said Trustee Steve Riess.

There are treatments available for elms that are just beginning to show symptoms, but nothing is 100-percent effective, said Kusmerz. The treatment involves injecting a liquid into a tree?EUR??,,????'???s trunk. Cost can vary by size and other factors. Treatments are most effective when given to healthy elms annually to prevent from contracting the disease,?EUR??,,????'?? he said.