So the best thing you can do to prevent AFB is to NOT use antibiotics like fumidil and Terramycin (Oxytetracycline).
What about AFB residing on equipment, especially inside the hive? They say it can be latent for decades. I am honestly concerned because there have been several outbreaks in the next town. We bought equipment from someone who has recently lost at least 40 hives. I just found out that some bottom boards and lids were second hand. The offsider did the dealings with him and I guess didn't have the heart to refuse second hand gear. He had also given him half a dozen or so stickies which are now spread through a few hives. There are no signs of AFB in our hives, but our hive numbers are increasing, and it would be terrible to lose them all. Any suggestions are welcome. Should I move those stickies to the wall till the brood hatches then burn them?
I got steel to make another 5 hive tools, our 80 cents hive tools. I thought about leaving one at each bee yard. I am trying to clean them better with a heat gun every time I use them, but this still won't get rid of AFB spores.
Lone