American foulbrood (AFB) is a bacterial infection that affects honey bees and has disastrous effects on a
colony’s health. The disease is caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, which produces spores that can
survive for over 35 years in beehives and beekeeping equipment. The spores are able to survive in a wide
range of disinfectant solutions and temperatures so the advised way to destroy the bacteria is to burn the
affected equipment/honey.