2024 has seen a very busy year for Statutory Notifiable Bee Diseases across England and Wales with over 600 cases of European Foulbrood and 50 cases of American Foulbrood identified and dealt with by the National Bee Unit’s Bee Inspectors.
The North Eastern Region of which Lincolnshire is part – has been no exception to this with a total of 129 Cases of EFB and 33 cases of AFB across the Region.
Within Lincolnshire itself 43 cases of EFB have been dealt with , no AFB has so far been discovered within the County, but inspection work continues whilst the weather is suitable.
Please would members follow this link which shows each of the 10km squares where disease has been identified : Live EFB Report » APHA – National Bee Unit – BeeBase within the County and also surrounding counties where EFB has been identified such as Nottinghamshire, Norfolk and Yorkshire. We are looking at twelve x 10km squares in the County with confirmed disease plus some adjoining squares in other counties.
Beekeepers who have apiaries in these 10km areas should please register their apiaries onto Beebase : Register » APHA – National Bee Unit – BeeBase
Our data policy is shown here: Personal information charter – Animal and Plant Health Agency – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The only way we can hope to control levels of disease is to work together to ensure that our own and our neighbours’ bees have been inspected by the National Bee Units Inspectors in the high risk areas and this applies to members of the Lincolnshire Beekeepers Association and those who are not members – we treat everyone alike. Please be mindful that membership of the Association does not mean that your apiary sites are registered on Beebase. There is still a fair amount of brood present in colonies so please reference the information below and then have a good look at your colonies before the close of the season.
There are three Bee Inspectors who currently work in Lincolnshire that is Adrian Kennedy, Barry Perkins and Myself – Andy Wattam – Contact for all inspectors can be found here: Contact Us » APHA – National Bee Unit – BeeBase please do not hesitate to make contact with us if you are concerned about possible brood disease within your colonies
Finally, here is some useful information and publications:
Foulbrood » APHA – National Bee Unit – BeeBase
Foulbrood_2017_Web_version.pdf (nationalbeeunit.com)
Diseases, pests and hygiene » APHA – National Bee Unit – BeeBase
As we are in Varroa Treatment time our managing varroa booklet is a useful reference: Varroa » APHA – National Bee Unit – BeeBase please remember to keep a record of the treatments purchased and used – this handy record sheet can be used: Veterinary_Medicine_Administration_Record-3.pdf (nationalbeeunit.com)
Kind Regards.
Andy Wattam.
National Bee Inspector – Head of Bee Health Field Inspectorate for England & Wales.