OSLO, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has detected bacteria that cause a highly contagious brood disease among the beehives in southern Norway, news agency NTB reported Sunday.
European foulbrood, caused by Melisococcus plutonius, is a highly contagious bowel disease that attacks bees' fry. The bacterium can survive for several years in the beehives and the disease can cause severe loss of fry and bee colonies.
The apiary in Norway's southern county of Aust-Agder, where the bacteria were found, was instructed to kill all the bees and clean the area, the report said.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority said that it also started investigating whether the infection may have spread.
Two other apiaries nearby are also pending further investigation, according to the report.
It is not dangerous for humans to eat honey from infected apiaries, the report said.
