On Fri, 14 Mar 1997, [log in to unmask] (Harry) wrote:
 
> It seems to
> me that quanantine regulations are of little use for bees or any other
> animal since it is almost 100% certain that whatever disease you are
> trying to prevent will eventually reach that area.  All you are doing is
> delaying the inevitable and when this occurs your stocks will have no
> resistance to the desease and the effect will be worse.
>
> We have a similar problem in Scotland at present with the Varroa mite
> making its way up from England.  I think although certain measures have
> been implimented regarding the movement of bees from infected areas it
> is just a delaying tactic and the whole of Britain will have sucumbed to
> the mite in a few years.
 
 
For many islands, such as Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand,
quarantines can be effective in preventing the spread of pathogens and
parasites. Selective or total bans on honey bee imports have so far kept
the varroa and tracheal mites out of those three island states.
 
Tom Culliney
Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture
[log in to unmask]