Would all Pembrokeshire beekeepers please note that there have again been confirmed outbreaks of AFB in the area. We have been advised that there will be a concentrated effort by National Bee Unit (NBU) Inspectors shortly, to check all colonies potentially at risk.

We would ask that you all be as helpful and accommodating to the NBU Inspectors as possible in undertaking this task and if asked you must advise them of all your apiary/hive locations! 

Please also see the National Bee Unit (NBU) factsheet Apiary_Hygiene_and_Quarantine for your information and action. Also ‘Foulbrood Disease of Honey Bees and other common brood disorders’ has a lot of information on biosecurity and barrier management, including ‘10 rules for foulbrood control’. These are on Beebase at:

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=167

We strongly recommend that all PBKA members sign up to Beebase in order to ensure that they receive any warnings and to obtain advice etc in the event of a disease outbreak.

Beekeepers within 3km of the outbreak with a current email address on Beebase will have been emailed an alert from the NBU. All beekeepers within 5km of an outbreak should exercise vigilance as per the above factsheet, which also covers swarm collection.