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Bee disease outbreak
17/02/2010
An outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB), a disease affecting honeybees, has been confirmed in one hive in the Stranraer area.
The disease was discovered following notification to the Scottish Government and investigation by a Scottish Government Rural Inspections and Payments Directorate (RPID) Bee Inspector on February 5, 2010.
A 5km Infected Area has been declared around the apiary prohibiting the movement of bees and related equipment into or out of the Infected Area, except under licence from the Scottish Government.
There are no risks to public health.
Hives with AFB cannot be treated with antibiotics and must be destroyed.
There were outbreaks of both AFB and European Foulbrood (EFB) in Scotland during 2009. The Scottish Government are currently working with bee stakeholders on a control strategy for 2010, which will be based on a heightened level of inspections, biosecurity, quarantine apiaries and movement reporting.
Following this recent confirmation of AFB, the duties of some Bee Inspectors will be re-prioritised when weather conditions allow hive inspections to be resumed to ensure that this incident is thoroughly investigated.
Bee farmers and beekeepers are being urged to be vigilant for signs of the disease, to maintain good husbandry practices and to notify the local area office of the Scottish Government's Rural Inspections and Payments Directorate if they suspect AFB or EFB.
AFB is a notifiable disease under The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007 and is subject to official control by a programme of apiary inspections carried out by Scottish Government bee inspectors.