Bees in Dresden infected with disease - immediate measures

In the south-east of Dresden, a beehive is infected with a contagious brood disease. The infestation with so-called American foulbrood was discovered during a regular inspection in the Lockwitz district, as announced by the state capital of Dresden.

Bee colonies can die

American foulbrood, which is harmless to humans, can cause bee colonies to die within a short period of time. It is caused by a bacterium that infects the bee brood and quickly leads to its death. Instead of larvae and pupae, all that remains in the brood combs is a coffee-brown, stringy mass. The pathogen usually enters the hive via contaminated honey or honeycombs and is spread via bee contact, equipment and food exchange.

Immediate measures to prevent the spread

In order to prevent the spread to other bee colonies and hives, the Dresden Veterinary and Food Inspection Office and the District Office of the Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains district have ordered immediate measures. These include a protection zone within a radius of one kilometer around the outbreak farm. Keepers must report the location and number of colonies in their apiaries to the authorities. The colonies are then examined by an official veterinarian. It is forbidden to take bees, honeycombs and bee dwellings out of or into the restricted area.