European brood rot is increasing - beekeepers are urged to be vigilant

European fry rot has long been considered fairly harmless, compared to the more serious American fry rot.

But now the Swedish Agency for Agriculture sees that there are more and more cases of European brood rot. Therefore, the Kalmar County Administrative Board has decided that the county's beekeepers must pay extra attention to symptoms and take preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection spreading.

- The risk is that it will spread significantly. And then we don't actually know what's going on, says deputy supervisor Erik Olsson.

What is European fry rot?

European brood rot is a brood disease caused by the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. Larvae that become infected usually die quite quickly. But adult bees can be carriers without getting sick.

Sick bee colonies that have been infected can recover, but in some more severe cases, the disease leads to the weakening of the colony.

Can affect the honey

The disease is not currently regulated by Swedish legislation, which means that there are no requirements to remedy or remediate.

However, it is highly contagious. One measure is to move bees to new places, but the consequence is then that the bees have to start all over again.

- Then society's capacity is reduced and there won't be as much honey then, says Erik Olsson.