High prevalence of Paenibacillus larvae, the pathogenic agent of American foulbrood disease, in Palestinian honey bee colonies.

Summary: Did you know that a tiny germ is causing big problems for honey bees in Palestine? It causes a deadly sickness called American foulbrood. Scientists tested bee hives for two years and found a shocking surprise. Even though the bees didn't look sick at first, the deadly bacteria were hiding in almost 9 out of 10 bee farms! Worse, over half of the infected hives died during the study. This is the first time this bee-killing germ has ever been found in Palestine. Now, beekeepers need to act fast to treat the hives, save the bees, and stop the sickness from spreading to other farms.