Honey bees at risk as 'foot and mouth' style disease hits Scotland

Honey bees are under threat from a deadly menace after an outbreak of American Foulbrood was discovered in Central Scotland.

The disease was found by a government bee inspector in an apiary in West Lothian. A 5km infected area has been declared around the apiary, located between Linlithgow and Kirkliston.

Beekeeping experts have described it as a form of "foot and mouth" which could have severe repercussions for Scotland's beekeeping sector.

The movement of bees and related equipment is prohibited, except under licence from the Scottish Government.

There were outbreaks of American Foulbrood (AFB) and European Foulbrood (EFB) in Scotland during 2009.

In February this year, an AFB outbreak was found in a hive in the Stranraer area.

The infected area announced yesterday 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 other apiaries in the area.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "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.

"AFB is highly contagious and difficult to eradicate."

Bees are usually killed by sealing off the hive before pouring petrol into it Beekeepers are urged to check their hives and notify any suspicion of disease. Last night. Phil McAnespie, vice-president of the Scottish Beekeepers' Association, said: "This AFB outbreak will be very concerning to small businesses in Scotland which produce honey, and also to individuals who keep bees. It is like a form of 'foot and mouth' for bees,

"Their hives will have to be destroyed, and restocking and rebuilding a business takes time and money."

Mr McAnespie said before last year's outbreak of AFB and EFB, the disease had been seen by many in Scotland as mainly affecting hives in England.

"In England, there were inspectors on the ground all the time and AFB and EFB were found sporadically every year. The inspectors we had in Scotland were there in name only and were employed in other animal husbandry such as cattle, so the disease was not being picked up here," Mr McAnespie said.

"Since last year's outbreaks, the Scottish Government have identified the situation and the inspectors have had a steep learning curve."

In June, experts said three of the UK's 25 bumblebee species had become extinct, while half had suffered declines of up to 70 per cent.

It is estimated insect pollinators contribute 440 million to the UK economy through their role in fertilising crops. Last month, environment secretary Richard Lochhead announced a ten-year strategy to help protect honey bees.