American foulbrood has been detected in bees in the Druviena parish of the Gulbene region, leading to the declaration of a threat zone with a radius of three kilometers around the affected farm, as stated in an order published in the official publication "Latvijas Vēstnesis" by the Chief State Food and Veterinary Inspector, reports LETA.
American foulbrood has been confirmed at the "Lielvasaraudži" farm in the Druviena parish of the Gulbene region, according to a testing report from the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "Bior" dated March 25, 2026.
The State Senior Veterinary Inspector of the Eastern Vidzeme Food and Veterinary Service (PVS) has been instructed to conduct a clinical assessment of bee colonies in permanent locations within the threat zone, collect suspicious samples for laboratory research, and investigate the epidemiological situation to identify potentially infected and epidemiologically linked apiaries, as well as the pathways of disease transmission and potentially infected objects.
Relevant measures in the threat zones for American foulbrood are expected to begin this spring when the air temperature in the shade reaches at least 14 degrees Celsius during the day.
Beekeepers are required to comply with the established requirements set forth in the order and cooperate with state inspectors of the PVS during oversight activities.
American foulbrood is caused by the bacterium Paenobacillus larvae. While this disease poses no danger to humans, it is fatal to bees if timely measures are not taken for its eradication. For beekeepers, the disease also represents a serious economic threat, as it leads to a significant decrease in production.
The PVS is a state institution under the Ministry of Agriculture, responsible for state supervision and control in the field of food and veterinary circulation.
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