The vast areas in New Zealand of Wairarapa and the northern Hutt Valley are currently the “high risk area” after the outbreak of one of the most invasive diseases in the honey industry.
A management agency that monitors AFB disease in the New Zealand bee population on Wednesday warned beekeepers in the region of a “serious outbreak” concentrated in Martinborough, but also in Featherstone, Greattown, Carterton, and in the north and south of Upper Hutt.
An industry-funded agency reported that 275 beekeeper hives from South Wairarap were affected by the disease. AFB National Manager, Clifton King, said it was the worst infection he had seen in the 18 months he spent in the organization.According to him, the only way to combat AFB was to burn infected hives before they could spread the infection to other populations. All infected hives in this case were destroyed in accordance with the Biosafety Law.
AFB or American foulbrood disease is caused by a bacterium of the larva of Paenibacillus. The honey bee larva becomes infected by feeding spores of AFB that contaminate the brood feed placed in its cage. The larva feeds on spores, which then germinate in the intestines and turn into a vegetative form of bacteria.