In a message dated 23/03/2009 21:08:15 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

I was  told by an experienced beekeeper that bees are stressed in blueberries
and  that EFB is a "stress" disease.




EFB is a bacterial disease that multiplies unseen during the good times.  
When the colony is stressed, especially by there being a shortage of nurse bees  
or the wherewithal for them to create brood food, the disease becomes visible  
but multiplication should be reduced as the bees tend to die as  larvae and 
can be removed intact taking their load of bacteria with  them.
 
In the UK it is a 'notifiable' disease that used to be treated by burning  in 
the same way as AFB. Since that policy has been relaxed to allow the Ministry 
 to treat less severe cases by antibiotics or, more recently, by shook 
swarms,  the incidence has increased markedly.  Reportedly, shook swarming is more  
effective than antibiotics.
 
Chris

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