As I mentioned, the first year I was an inspector I mailed in 100 samples of suspected AFB. 100% tested positive for AFB. 

I don’t have the numbers but if the rate was 5%, then I looked at 2000 hives. Beltsville does not have that data so they can make no statement about incidence levels. 

We tried to inspect all registered hives to get an accurate idea of incidence. Right there there’s a skew because it excludes unregistered hives. 

It’s actually worse now because most inspections are done when someone calls for it. The only agency doing unskewed sampling is APHIS but they don’t sample for AFB. 

More agencies are shifting to using adult bees or honey, which is worse still because they detect spores which are ubiquitous and outbreaks of actual disease. 

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