Bees can experience a variety of diseases, but the ones with the most impact to bees and beekeepers are brood diseases. These can range from the relatively mild such as chalkbrood, all the way to foulbrood, which can be devastating, not just to one colony, as it can affect a whole apiary or even wider.
Foulbrood (both European and American) is a statutory notifiable disease, and so beekeepers are legally obligated to report any suspected diseased colonies under the Bee Diseases and Pests Control Order 2006 (as amended). This is done by contacting either the NBU or one of your local bee inspectors.
Foulbrood (both European and American) is a statutory notifiable disease, and so beekeepers are legally obligated to report any suspected diseased colonies under the Bee Diseases and Pests Control Order 2006 (as amended). This is done by contacting either the NBU or one of your local bee inspectors.
Recognising Foulbrood
The National Bee Unit produces an excellent brochure on EFB and AFB, including how to recognise it.
You can find that brochure here.
You can find that brochure here.
Reporting Foulbrood
The best way to report a suspected case of foulbrood is to contact one of your local bee inspectors.
The bee inspectors for Somerset are as follows:
The bee inspectors for Somerset are as follows:
- Regional Bee Inspector - Covering the whole South-West
- Simon Jones simon.jones@apha.gsi.gov.uk Tel No: 01823 442228 Mobile No: 07775 119459
- Seasonal Bee Inspector - covering Somerset
- Megan Seymour megan.seymour@apha.gsi.gov.uk Mobile No: 07775 119475
- Eleanor Burgess eleanor.burgess@apha.gsi.gov.uk Mobile No: 07775 119465
