The UK remedy for AFB is one we are very happy with here. There is no
apparent resistance either by the beekeeper or the spores. Since it has been
in use it has reduced the incidence of AFB to around 1% of colonies from a
figure many times that before the remedy was introduced.
The remedy is to dig a pit, kill all the bees with petrol (at dusk when all
the foragers have returned), put the entire contents of the hive in the pit,
burn with more petrol, thoroughly scorch the hive body with a blow lamp. Fill
in the pit giving a good covering of soil. Bee Diseases Insurance Ltd pays
out at a set rate for brood combs, shallows etc. The premiums are cheap
because the risk has now been reduced to such a low level. Even better there
is absolotely no risk of contaminating honey or beekeepers with unwanted
antibiotics.
Chris Slade