2023-09-26 06:42:18
Around ten outbreaks of European foulbrood have been identified in Wallonia, mainly in the province of Luxembourg. It is a highly contagious bacterial disease that attacks bee larvae. Consequence: the beekeepers concerned must destroy their bee colonies, and not only those which are actually affected by this disease.
Johan Kindermans is a beekeeper in Wibrin, halfway between La Roche en Ardenne and Houffalize. With death in his soul, he decided to eliminate his bee colonies himself, those affected by European foulbrood but also the others: “I killed everything myself. I still had to kill them.“
The fate of its bees was effectively sealed: when 50% of the hives are affected, the AFSCA’s decision is to destroy all the colonies.
A measure considered radical by Martin Dermine, veterinarian specializing in bees: “Destroying a beekeeper’s entire stock because he has a few cases of European foulbrood is completely outdated and goes once morest biology. If in my apiary I have 3 sick colonies and 7 healthy colonies, this means that these 7 colonies are resistant and healthy. We should therefore keep them because they have good genetics and get rid of diseased colonies.“
The AFSCA therefore applies regulations, the sector understands this but regrets it, Jacque Delacolette, president of the beekeeping section of Houffalize: “We are undoing years of work. We would like to destroy indigenous strains even though these strains have lived in the region for thousands of years.“
Around ten outbreaks of European foulbrood have been identified in recent months, the majority being in the province of Luxembourg.
1695718704
#European #foulbrood #bad #luck #bees #beekeepers #Belgium
