All-clear in Lichtenberg: American foulbrood successfully combated!

All-clear in Lichtenberg: American foulbrood successfully combated!

The Lichtenberg Veterinary and Food Inspectorate in Berlin has positive news to report. On Friday, June 6, 2025, the previously issued general orders regarding American foulbrood (AFB) outbreaks were repealed. This decision follows intensive sampling of all known bee colonies and locations in the affected areas, which consistently showed negative results for the pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. The lifting of the measures was a long-awaited step for beekeepers in the region.

The first outbreak of American foulbrood was confirmed by an official veterinarian on August 14, 2023 in the Berlin district of Lichtenberg. In order to prevent further damage to health, general animal health regulations were issued. A year later, on September 1, 2024, the measures had to be expanded due to an additional suspected case that occurred north of the original area. In this suspected area, an apiary with unclear clinical symptoms occurred, which was ultimately identified, but did not allow clear official confirmation of a further outbreak.

Background on American Foulbrood

American foulbrood is a bacterial breeding disease of honey bees caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. This disease is notifiable in Germany and Austria; In Switzerland there is a reporting obligation. AFB primarily affects the larvae, which are decomposed by the bacterium, causing them to mutate into a tough, brown substance. Adult bees are not at risk of the disease, but the plague can enter healthy colonies through contaminated honey or honeycomb materials, which promotes the spread of the infection.

In 2022, 72 AFB outbreaks were recorded in Germany, while 31 cases were detected in Austria in 2023. In the event of an outbreak, a restricted area is set up with a radius of at least one kilometer around the affected apiary. This makes it all the more important that beekeepers regularly carry out forage samples in order to detect possible AFB contamination at an early stage. Spores alone do not guarantee an outbreak; Only the coincidence of clinical symptoms and evidence of pathogens leads to an official diagnosis of the disease.

Regulations and measures to combat it

According to the Bee Disease Ordinance (BienSeuchV), specific measures are regulated that must be taken in the event of suspicion or after the disease has been detected. Beekeepers are obliged to immediately report any suspicions, such as irregular brood nests or the typical bone glue-like smell, to the responsible veterinary office. This affects both the city administration and the district office, which are responsible for carrying out the necessary investigations.

Combating AFB has changed over the years. In the past, the usual method was to dispose of all affected colonies, whereas today artificial swarming methods and hive disinfection are preferred. Beekeepers are also entitled to have their bee colonies examined by officially appointed bee experts in order to be able to act quickly if illnesses are suspected.

On the positive side, a vaccination against Paenibacillus larvae was recently approved in the United States and can reduce larval mortality by 30 to 50%. This represents a step forward in the fight against this dangerous bee disease, which poses a specific challenge to beekeeping due to spores with a lifespan of over 50 years in the environment.

The developments in Lichtenberg, which were achieved thanks to comprehensive investigations and preventive measures, give cause for hope for beekeeping, both in Berlin and beyond.