Bee disease strikes Perthshire apiary

Jun 24 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

BEE keepers are being urged to remain vigilant after it was confirmed this week that an outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB) had been found in an apiary near Ballinluig.

The notifiable disease affecting honeybees has been confirmed following laboratory diagnosis by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture.

The AFB infected hive has been destroyed as there is no permitted treatment for the disease in the UK.

There are no risks to public health from AFB and no implications for the quality and safety of honey.

The movement of bees and related equipment into or out of the affected apiary is prohibited.

Throughout the week, Scottish Government bee inspectors have been carrying out inspections on apiaries in the area.

Beekeepers are urged to check their hives and notify any suspicion of disease to BeesMailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

To help the government’s bee inspectors control this and other diseases, beekeepers are being urged to register on BeeBase, the national bee database at BeesMailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

AFB kills off bee larva, is highly contagious and notoriously difficult to eradicate. There were outbreaks of AFB and European Foulbrood in Scotland during 2009 and again last year.