AFB in West Lothian

This note is currently being sent round the SBA and local association contacts, and has also been posted on the 'Disease' pages of the main SBA website where Al has also lodged a copy of the Scottish Government News Release.

G.

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AFB in West Lothian

This afternoon a prominent commercial beekeeper called myself and Nigel Hurst as a representative of the Edinburgh and Midlothian Beekeepers' Association to spread the word that AFB had been detected in his bees today. Tonight a Scottish Government representative also called to say that the case has now been confirmed. This extends the known area with AFB cases to the Lothians, particularly the eastern half of West Lothian, and is a potent reminder to beekeepers anywhere in Scotland that searching for brood diseases is essential. Although AFB cases are destroyed by law, early detection can save it spreading through apiaries. AFB manifests itself as dead larvae in capped brood cells and the ropiness test with a match or twig is diagnostic for this disease. The disease will also kill young larvae and can be spotted in vacated brood comb by the persistent thickening along the lower wall of a cell from a dried-down infected larva.

At this stage we do not know whether this is an isolated case, perhaps caught by these bees on heather sites elsewhere, something that may be found more extensively in the coming fortnight as this beekeeper's other bees in additional apiaries in the area are inspected, or something that has arrived in his bees from other infected bees in the Lothians.

The beekeeper concerned has not asked for anonymity, and thought that one of his first actions should be to inform the beekeeping community, aware that the inspectorate can take some time to fully confirm the case and to promulgate news of it. In fact the Scottish Government have acted quickly to confirm the case and have already been informing beekeeping organisations prior to a press release which should be available tonight.

Beekeepers in the area may like to carefully inspect their bees now, reporting any suspicions to the inspectors, and if not already signed up to BeeBase Scotland, let the inspectors know of their bees in the area via this email address or by contacting an RPID office:

BeesMailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Beekeepers should be aware that this disease spreads via swarms, robbing of weakened or dead colonies, honey, exchanges of equipment and on beekeeping gloves and tools, but it does not spread as readily and as quickly as EFB.

This is the text of a News Release from the Scottish Government:

Bee Disease Confirmed
American Foulbrood found in West Lothian


An outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB), a disease affecting honeybees, has been found in an apiary in West Lothian.


The disease was discovered today (July 16) by a Scottish Government Bee Inspector.


A 5km Infected Area has been declared around the apiary, located between Linlithgow and Kirkliston. The movement of bees and related equipment is prohibited, except under licence from the Scottish Government.


The infected area extends from the Forth in the north to Uphall and Broxburn in the south, and from Linlithgow in the west to between Winchburgh and Kirkliston in the east. Bee inspectors will be carrying out inspections on apiaries in the area in coming days.


Hives with AFB must be destroyed as there is no known treatment. There are no risks to public health from AFB and no implications for the quality and safety of honey.


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


In order to assist Scottish Government Bee Inspectors to control the disease beekeepers are urged to register on BeeBase, the national bee database. This will give them access to up-to-date information on control of American Foulbrood and bee related issues.


Beekeepers in the area of this outbreak who are not on Beebase are requested to send their contact details to BeesMailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk


Background


AFB is a notifiable disease under The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007. It kills off bee larva, is highly contagious and difficult to eradicate.


There were outbreaks of AFB and European Foulbrood (EFB) in Scotland during 2009. The Scottish Government and bee stakeholders have created an EFB control strategy for 2010. This involves a heightened level of inspections, biosecurity, quarantine measures and movement reporting.


Last month the Scottish Government launched the first Honey Bee Health Strategy to tackle the causes of declining bee health. The Strategy focuses on four areas, i) education, training and Knowledge transfer, ii) communication, ii) surveillance, diagnosis and biosecurity, iv) Research and Development




Up to the minute information, and details on how to register on BeeBase, can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/beehealth.


Contact
Duty Communications : 0131 556 8400