American Foulbrood (AFB) found in Kincardineshire
Beekeepers in Scotland encouraged to increase biosecurity
An outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB) has been confirmed in a single hive in the Kincardineshire area.
The infected hive was detected by the beekeeper, with the disease confirmed by SASA on 4th June 2026. This is the first finding of AFB in Scotland this year.
AFB is a notifiable disease that affects colonies of honeybees. There is no treatment for the disease.
Beekeepers within 3km of the affected colony will be alerted via BeeBase and encouraged to increase their biosecurity.
Chief Veterinary Officer for Scotland Sheila Voas said:
“The finding of AFB a timely reminder that beekeepers should always remain vigilant for signs of the disease. There are no risks to public health and no implications for the quality and safety of Scottish honey.
The movement of bees and related equipment into, or out of, the affected apiary will be under specific restrictions supervised by Scottish Government Bee Inspectors and will include enhanced biosecurity measures and increased vigilance in the area.
Beekeepers should make sure they are aware of the symptoms of AFB and report suspicion of disease to the Scottish Government Honey Bee Health Team. I would also encourage Scottish beekeepers to register on BeeBase so that they can be informed of any disease outbreaks in their area.”
Background
AFB is a notifiable disease under The Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) Order 2007 (as amended).
Read the guidance on Honey bee health.
In 2025 there were 8 honey bee colonies confirmed positive for AFB in Scotland, in one apiary. Disease trends of the disease through the years are publicly available in BeeBase.