Bees 'foot and mouth' outbreak poses no threat, say officials
THE Scottish Government says there is no threat to public safety following the outbreak of a "foot and mouth-type" disease affecting honeybees in West Lothian.
A five-kilometre infection area was declared between Linlithgow and Kirkliston after an outbreak of American foulbrood (AFB) was discovered in an apiary in Philpstoun last Friday by a government bee inspector.
Hives found with AFB have been destroyed as there is no known treatment for the disease. A single hive can contain up to 80,000 bees during the summer months.
The movement of the insects and equipment was also prohibited in the affected areas from the River 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.
Beekeeping experts have described it as a form of "foot and mouth" which could have severe repercussions for Scotland's beekeeping sector.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government 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."
Government bee inspectors are still carrying out inspections on apiaries in the area this week.
The spokeswoman added: "One hive has been confirmed as infected with AFB to date. We know of at least another dozen apiaries in the area and Scottish Government bee inspectors are concentrating their investigations in the 5km surveillance zone."
AFB kills off bee larva, is highly contagious and difficult to eradicate. Bees with the disease are killed by sealing off the hive before pouring petrol into it.
There were outbreaks of AFB and European foulbrood (EFB) in Scotland last year, forcing an EFB control strategy to be created involving a heightened level of inspections, biosecurity, quarantine measures and movement reporting.
Phil McAnespie, vice-president of the Scottish Beekeepers' Association, added: "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 an rebuilding a business takes time and money."
Bee populations in the UK are declining, largely due to the loss of wildflower habitats in which they thrive.
Many argue that the extensive use of pesticides on farmland is a big contributor.
It is believed that up to 28 per cent of Scotland's honeybees have now disappeared – a frightening thought as Einstein said that without bees, the world would starve in four years.
Bumblebees are major pollinators of most of our wildflowers and crops.
If they continue to disappear the plants will set less seed, resulting in sweeping changes to the countryside, according to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.
Beekeepers are urged to notify any suspicion of disease to BeesMailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
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Weather for Bathgate
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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