EL CAJON, Calif. -- State agriculture officials will begin treating an 11-square-mile area in El Cajon Friday in an effort to halt a recent infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies.

Three Medflies were discovered in El Cajon as of Thursday, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The CDFA plans to begin releasing 250,000 sterile Medflies per mile in the eradication zone.

Nearly 2.8 million sterile Medflies will be released weekly, according to the CDFA.

The sterile flies will mate with fertile female flies, but produce no offspring, thereby eradicating the pest.

Crews will also conduct ground treatments within a 200-meter radius from where the Medflies were detected.

CDFA officials anticipate that a quarantine will be established in the area shortly, which would prohibit residents from removing fruits and vegetables from a designated zone.

The Medfly can infest more than 260 types of fruits and vegetables, causing a severe impact on California's agricultural exports and backyard gardens, state agriculture officials said.