I was unaware that AFB is a problem in Africa. This short video opened up my mind.
American Foulbrood trailer (http://vimeo.com/7673092)
I'm speechless. :-(
Quote from: Grandma_DOG on February 27, 2010, 11:16:51 PM
I was unaware that AFB is a problem in Africa. This short video opened up my mind.
American Foulbrood trailer (http://vimeo.com/7673092)
When I was in N.Africa (Tunisia) in 1983 - 1985 About 50 % of all hives die of (Look Ameican) Ameican Foulbrood
BEE HAPPY Jim134 :)
The video did not work for me :?
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
They gave us AHB, we gave them AFB. Just kidding. I know it is not funny but I could not resist.
With todays ease of travel through out the world, its really only a matter of time and everything there is to have will be had.
It is my understanding that the labels American or European Foulbrood refer to where the strains were first clinically described and not the actual distribution of the diseases. Both diseases have a wide distribution.
I wonder if the Cape region has been spared until now because of geography. The region is somewhat isolated from the rest of africa by the Kalahari and Namib deserts and a wide expanse of savanah.
It stinks for them to deal with that now. But deal with it they will, just like the deal with problems our beekeepers have had to and will continue to.
Saw a SHB crawling on one of those frames too.
I feel for them. We've all unfortunately got things in our respective lives have completely changed the way we used to do it. I wasn't keeping bees when Tracheal and Varroa mites showed up but I'm certain there were many that opted out instead of changing to meet the new challenge. No one likes change per se but it will always be part of our lives in every facet we face.