What is the recommended action if American Foulbrood is diagnosed in a hive?

When American Foulbrood (AFB) is diagnosed in a hive, burning everything, including the hive parts and any equipment that has come into contact with the infected colony, is the recommended action. AFB is a highly contagious and lethal bacterial disease caused by Paenibacillus larvae that affects honeybee brood.

The pathogen can lay dormant in the environment for long periods, and simply treating the affected colony is often insufficient to eradicate the disease. Comb and hive materials can harbor bacterial spores which can reinfect future bee populations. Therefore, incinerating all affected materials ensures that the disease does not spread to other colonies nearby and prevents future occurrences in that location.

In contrast to the correct action, applying anti-bacterial treatment is generally not effective enough to eliminate the spores left in the hive. Leaving the hive undisturbed can allow the disease to progress and spread to other hives, and moving the hive to a different location does not solve the problem since the spores may remain in the equipment and the surroundings. Hence, destruction of all contaminated items is the only assured way to manage AFB and protect neighboring colonies.