Hello Peter and All,

> Your response is quite unbelievable!

I consider myself almost expert on the history of AFB in the U.S. before the
war years and have seen the way the problem was handled by the USDA then and
the way the problem was solved. The reason for my response.

> In the UK we have so little AFB that it is rare to hear of any cases.

When I was on the IBL list many were talking about cases of AFB. None as
large as the one just talked about but fairly common.

> Our  treatment policy, i.e.  to burn infected colonies, has worked so
>well that  it would be difficult to find anyone who would argue for change.

Only those not being able to control AFB with burning  methods would ask for
a change.

> My understanding is that in the US you have endemic AFB due to your
treatment policies and are now producing antibiotic resistant AFB!

We have got a new antibiotic being registered which gives 100% AFB control.
If we get the milege out of the new antibiotic we did with terramycin then
should be good for around 60 years.

> And you feel qualified to offer us advice?

I suspect I have seen more AFB than most beekeepers as I never used
terramycin except when needed.   At least the advice is free. Taking things
a step further what do you think your government would propose *if* the
problem gets out of hand? Surely not antibiotics?

I always get a kick out of beekeepers which say they would never put a
chemical strip in their hives. Half their hives die from varroa and out come
the strips.

Same scenario with AFB. When burning does not solve the problem out come the
antibiotics.

Burning may control the problem for you and I hope it does. Burning has
solved AFb when caught early and few hives have been involved for me.

100 plus hives infected with AFb is a large outbreak even in the U.S. I
would also guess the AFB has been in those hives for a couple years
unnoticed. Burn away but keep the antibiotics close by.

Sincerely,
Bob