White pine blister rust is a fungal disease that requires both white pines and species of currants and gooseberries to complete its lifecycle. It was introduced from Europe in the 1890s and can cause defoliation, death of white pines, and was declared a public nuisance in some states. The disease spreads via spores from ribes plants to pine needles and causes needle discoloration, flagging branches, trunk cankers, and decay. Monitoring, improving tree health, removing ribes plants, and bark tracing can help manage the disease.