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An outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB), a disease affecting colonies of honeybees, has been confirmed in the Perthshire area.

The disease was discovered during ongoing investigations into European Foulbrood (EFB), which was confirmed last month.

There are no risks to public health.

So far AFB has been found in four hives in three apiaries. Bee inspectors are continuing their investigations and the Scottish Government's animal health contingency plan has been activated.

A surveillance zone has been put in place around the confirmed cases and inspections are taking place based on information provided by the affected beekeeper.

As with the EFB outbreak, both the Bee Farmers Association and the Scottish Beekeepers Association have been informed.

Bee farmers and beekeepers are being urged to be vigilant for signs of the disease, to maintain good husbandry practices and to notify the local area office of the Scottish Government's Rural Inspections and Payments Directorate if they suspect EFB or AFB.

So far 1,093 hives have been inspected for EFB with 61 of those testing positive. Forty hives have been destroyed.

Unlike EFB, hives with AFB cannot be treated with antibiotics. They must be destroyed.

AFB is a notifiable disease under The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007 and is subject to official control by a programme of apiary inspections carried out by Scottish Government bee inspectors.

There are eight suitably-trained bee inspectors in Scotland and all are working full-time on both the AFB and EFB outbreaks with support from the Disease Strategy Group, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and the Scottish Agricultural College.

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