a randy Oliver followed by > my comment... 
A big question to me is why our bees haven't developed full immunity to
some of these viruses.  Is it because the viruses are continually evolving
new strains, as does influenza virus in humans, or is it something else?
We still have much to learn...

>About 2 years ago I was discussing this issue with the former head of the Texas Apiary Inspection Service after his trip to South Africa. He informed me that they were finding NO varroa associated virus in that country.  We toss back and forth what could be happening and we both wondered (speculated) if the large scale of untreated hives in the area did not also mean that any hive that could contract the virus was not very early on culled from the population. Basically the weak were culled from the population and the virus had no where to go (no time to promote mutation).

>Work here seem to suggest DMV can also jump between other insect (ant) populations.

>Which once again leads me to convey the question.... pay me now or pay me later?

Gene in Central Texas...  

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