Third bee disease outbreak is confirmed

Published on 06/09/2011 23:57

An OUTBREAK of a highly contagious disease which kills honey-bee larvae has been found at a third apiary in Scotland.

Previous outbreaks of American Foulbrood (AFB) were discovered in the summer at apiaries near Meigle and near Ballinluig in Perthshire. The Scottish Government announced yesterday that a fresh outbreak of the killer disease had been found in an apiary in Inverness-shire.

A spokeswoman said: “The AFB infected hive will be destroyed as there is no permitted treatment for the disease in the UK. There are no risks to public health 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.”