Outbreaks of the American rag brood in Berlin district Lichtenberg threatens bee colonies

Outbreaks of the American rag brood in Berlin district Lichtenberg threatens bee colonies

The American lazy brood, a highly contagious bee disease, has reached the Berlin district of Lichtenberg and represents a real threat to beekeepers and bee colonies. In order to prevent further distribution, official veterinarians have set up a blocking circuit by ten affected beehives. No bees, honeycombs, wax or honey may be removed in this blocking circle.

Lichtenberg lists a total of more than 200 bees locations, ten of which are within the barrier circle. These ten locations must now be examined in order to contain the spread of the disease. Should the American rag brood spread freely, entire bee colonies could die.

The American lazy brood is transmitted by bacterial spores on which the bee larvae are infected and die. The pathogen can stay in the ground or in old beehouses for years and thus always cause new infection. For humans, the disease is harmless, but it threatens the bee larvae and thus the entire bee colony.

This bee disease keeps performing nationwide in Germany. Consumer advocates therefore recommend flushing empty honey jars thoroughly before they are thrown into the old glass container. Because, according to the consumer advocates, about 75 percent of the honey who come from "EU and non-EU countries" are infected with spores of the pathogens of the American lazy brood.

The high burden of foreign honey with the ribbon lines is a result of the treatment of bees with antibiotics. While this method is prohibited in Germany, it may be used in many non-EU countries. The problem with this is that the antibiotics combat the disease signs in the bees, but the high -containing spores remain in honey.

It is important that beekeepers and authorities are vigilant to prevent further outbreaks of the American lazy brood. Appropriate precautions and responsible honey production can reduce the risk for bee colonies.