EFB still around it seems 😞

[Finman]

Yes it’s afb but….https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298931948_Resistance_to_American_foulbrood_disease_by_honey_bee_colonies_Apis_mellifera_bred_for_hygienic_behavior

What is AFB? Do not mix it to EFB. They have nothing to do with each other.

 

[Finman]

That’s heartbreaking. It must be so frustrating knowing you can’t be sure to prevent it in the future.

Change the bee race and it is ok then.

 

[Boston Bees]

It is UK which does not accept that you can heal EFB by changing the queen. In other countries it is a routine. Like Australians say, EFB is more some stress factor than disease.

Defra says in 2011 that there is some evidence...
Why other countries say, that cure is based on resistancy. Why British beekeepers accept only information, which is produced in Britain?

No one denies that EFB is most likely to reveal itself when a colony is under stress.

Based on the Australian government website Australia seems to treat EFB primarily with antibiotics. We used to do that in the UK. It didn't work out so well I think, due to concerns over antibiotic resistance. Possibly the UK is just ahead of other countries in dealing with EFB, due to how long we have had it ....

 

[Ian123]

Possibly the UK is just ahead of other countries in dealing with EFB, due to how long we have had it ....

Please name any area of beekeeping that the UK is leading other countries

 

[Finman]

Based on the Australian government website Australia seems to treat EFB primarily with antibiotics.

You did not read management properly. Re-queening is one method.

Main method is wait that good flow begings and the disease will disapper.

 

[Boston Bees]

You did not read management properly. Re-queening is one method.

Main method is wait that good flow begings and the disease will disapper.

No, I read that too. I'm very glad we don't follow that method here, I think. It's certainly a much more relaxed attitude than I'd be comfortable with if my neighbour had EFB.

 

[Finman]

No, I read that too. I'm very glad we don't follow that method here, I think. It's certainly a much more relaxed attitude than I'd be comfortable with if my neighbour had EFB.

What method do you mean?

I think that you are too eager to hang in Black Bee and that is why you have that EFB problem and your loved burn to ash method.

 

[Boston Bees]

What method do you mean?

The method of "doing nothing and hoping for a good flow"

I think that you are too eager to hang in Black Bee and that is why you have that EFB problem and your loved burn to ash method.

I don't have any black bees as far as I know.

All I am doing is politely pointing out that you keep saying "EFB is easy, just requeen and you won't have any problem", but when I look at the actual example you provide (Australia) I find that, rather than some amazing requeening system, what they do is:

a) nothing, for light infections
b) antibiotics, for heavy infections

And I just mentioned that we had tried the antibiotic route and decided it wasn't wise.

I have yet to see any evidence, from any country, that requeening can be used as a primary method of EFB control.

 

[Finman]

The method of "doing nothing and hoping for a good flow"



I don't have any black bees as far as I know.

All I am doing is politely pointing out that you keep saying "EFB is easy, just requeen and you won't have any problem", but when I look at the actual example you provide (Australia) I find that, rather than some amazing requeening system, what they do is:

a) nothing, for light infections
b) antibiotics, for heavy infections

I cant help if you cannot help your self by using open mind. Your are just picking stupid things from advices. Perhaps it makes you blessed.

I live in Finland and last time I had EFB 55 years ago in the mixtures of Black bee x Caucasian.

It remained unclear, do you have EFB in your hives Boston?

 

[Boston Bees]

I live in Finland and last time I had EFB 55 years ago in the mixtures of Black bee x Caucasian

Good, and perhaps EFB is not widespread in Finland for some reason, as it is here and in certain other countries?

It is unclear, do you have EFB in your hives Boston?

No (though two apiaries within a couple of miles of me have been diagnosed with EFB in recent months)

 

[Finman]

Good, and perhaps EFB is not widespread in Finland for some reason, as it is here and in certain other countries?

I do not know. Beekeepers are not proud about their diseases. They use to be silent about them.

 

[pargyle]

What method do you mean?

I think that you are too eager to hang in Black Bee and that is why you have that EFB problem and your loved burn to ash method.

Trouble is Finnie ... We are totally bound by the rules of DEFRA and EFB is a noitifiable bees disease in the UK .. we have to report it. Using antibiotics is not permitted as an authorised treatment by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate ... so, whether you are right or not is pretty irrelevant ... EFB (and AFB) are covered by law in the UK and obviously, as responsible UK beekeepers we are bound by the law.

Behind the times compared to other countries - possibly - but thankfully both EFB and AFB are pretty rare in most parts of the UK and where there are hotspots the NBU are hot on its trail and with any luck they will both, in time, be largely eradicated. So, behind the times we may be but ... to some extent.. what we are doing is working.

 

[Finman]

Trouble is Finnie ... We are totally bound by the rules of DEFRA and EFB is a noitifiable bees disease in the UK .. we have to report it. Using antibiotics is not permitted as an authorised treatment

Me trouble. Problem solved.

.

 

[Murox]

....... We are totally bound by the rules of DEFRA and EFB is a noitifiable bees disease in the UK .. we have to report it. Using antibiotics is not permitted as an authorised treatment ....................

yet both the bee base and NBU sites list antibiotics as a treatment for European foul brood ~
............but lightly diseased colonies may in certain circumstances be treated with an antibiotic. However, this is not the control method of choice. Treatment must be carried out only by an Appointed.....................

 

[pargyle]

yet both the bee base and NBU sites list antibiotics as a treatment for European foul brood ~
............but lightly diseased colonies may in certain circumstances be treated with an antibiotic. However, this is not the control method of choice. Treatment must be carried out only by an Appointed.....................

Yes .... but try finding and justifying the 'certain circumstances' .... very ambiguous statement ...

 

[polymath]

EFB outbreak a well in Surrey around North of Woking up to M25 area I have had notifications sent to to me that two apiaries are within proximity, time to be vigilant!

 

[Patrick1]

Had a follow up visit from the Scottish BI today, 6 weeks after 2 hives were confirmed and destroyed.
Suspecting 3 more today, they took samples. I fear all will be back positive. One of those is my biggest hive, with 4 supers on.
If positive, they recommend destroying the ones positive and shook swarming the entire apiary.

They took samples from other beekeepers around me, suspected of EFB. They mentioned today that if not all are taking action, it’s likely to stay in the area.

I’m normally quite optimistic, but very frustrated currently. I just can’t have this year after year after year… Feels I need to be doing something drastic. But then again, it’s not just up to me.

Not my best beekeeping day today. Hope yours is better.

It’s hard enough to accept the losses but when the idiots that call themselves beekeepers will not register on BeeBase or call the SBI, it makes it everything so much harder to accept. The comfort you have is that you have done the right thing for the beekeeping community.
I have suffered the same way
Good conscientious beekeepers are getting harder to find, don’t let others dictate your life and hobby, good luck

 

[Patrick1]

Have you asked your Bee Inspector what particular strain of EFB were highlighted in the test results? over 40 different strains have been identified so far and some are almost impossible to eradicate, with shook swarming having no effect on it.
Are you also undertaking whole apiary S/S or just addressing the infected colonies?

I don’t think EFB or AFB can be eradicated until we have some kind of compulsory registration coupled with whole apiary destruction.

Chasing either of these diseases around a county or apiary year after year is not working.

 

[Boston Bees]

I do not know. Beekeepers are not proud about their diseases. They use to be silent about them.

That's quite worrying, if you have no way of knowing about EFB incidence in your area or country. A public register of EFB and AFB locations seems to me to be a very necessary thing, for beekeepers to be able to consider EFB management in an informed way.

How often are your hives inspected by a government bee disease inspector Finman. out of interest? When was the last time?

 

[Boston Bees]

I don’t think EFB or AFB can be eradicated until we have some kind of compulsory registration coupled with whole apiary destruction.

Chasing either of these diseases around a county or apiary year after year is not working.

I understand what you mean, but automatic whole apiary destruction for EFB would just drive beekeeping to be an "underground" hobby, which would achieve the opposite of what we want.