CBPV this early in the season!

[robmort]

One of the 4 hives in my garden seems to be suffering from CBPV already, which surprises me as I thought it could only happen in Spring. Noticed that the UFE was blocked with bodies so took the floor away to find a thick layer of dead bees covering the OMF. The hive seems otherwise strong and busy.
I've removed the floor and put an eke in its place.

All my hives suffered from it last Spring but recovered well.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

can't remember ever being told it only happened in the spring.
I've experience similar years ago, as if they just had a sudden mass die-out of old bees rather than the usual gradual trickle of autumn die-offs. in my particular case, I witnessed a flood of dead bees out of the UFE during autumn feeding time, another fairly heavy die-out midwinter, but they were still strong and ahead of the others in the spring. they did well that year - no repeat the following winter but unfortunately lost the lot when some stray sheep got into the apiary early spring and pushed the hive into the stream during torrential rain.

 

[ericbeaumont]

can't remember ever being told it only happened in the spring

I agree. My limited experience of CBPV years ago suggested that an autumn infection was likely to terminate a colony during or after winter, but that a spring & summer infection could be shrugged off if the queen was good and out-laid the losses. Sterilising the kit must help.