PREVENTING AND MANAGING AMERICAN FOULBROOD

Table of Content

Preventing and Managing American Foulbrood Disease in South African Beehives

This article is part of our complete guide to Starting Beekeeping in South Africa.

American Foulbrood (AFB) is a highly infectious bacterial disease caused by Paenibacillus larvae.

It kills bee larvae and can wipe out entire colonies if left untreated.

AFB spores can survive for decades, making it critical to detect early and respond quickly.

Symptoms of American Foulbrood

Sunken, perforated brood cappings
Discoloured, melted-looking larvae in brood cells
Foul, sulphur-like odour inside the hive
Ropy larval remains – insert a stick into the cell and pull out a sticky string
Scattered brood pattern (spotty brood)

✅ AFB only affects the larval stage—not adult bees.

How AFB Spreads

Sharing infected hive tools or frames between colonies
Robbing behaviour – bees steal honey from infected hives
Purchasing contaminated honey or wax
Using second-hand equipment without sterilising

Diagnosis and Confirmation

Suspect AFB? Take a photo and send it to your local bee inspector or apiary association.
For lab confirmation, send a sample to DALRRD or an approved diagnostic lab.

✅ Do not move suspected infected hives.

Treatment and Legal Requirements in South Africa

AFB is a notifiable disease under South African law.

If AFB is confirmed:

Burn the infected colony including frames, brood, and bees.
Disinfect hive boxes using a blowtorch or strong sodium hypochlorite solution.
Report the outbreak to DALRRD or your provincial agricultural office.

⚠️ There is no cure. Antibiotics only mask symptoms and are not allowed in South African apiculture.

How to Prevent American Foulbrood

Inspect brood regularly during hive inspections.
Avoid buying second-hand equipment unless sterilised.
Do not feed bees with unknown or shop-bought honey.
Keep strong colonies – weak hives are more susceptible.
Rotate old brood combs out of the hive every 3–5 years.

✅ Early detection and proper hive management are the best defences.

Disinfecting Equipment

Use a blowtorch to sterilise wooden hive bodies.
Soak tools in sodium hypochlorite (bleach) for 10 minutes.
Dispose of gloves or cloths that touched infected material.

Downloadable Checklist

Click here to download an AFB inspection and response checklist (Coming soon!)

Final Thoughts

AFB is serious, but it can be contained with vigilance and early action. South African beekeepers must treat every suspect case with urgency to protect their apiary and the surrounding bee population.