Seems to me that globally the industry has gone with "live with what is managable"... no?
I've been thinking more on this overnight. In Britain (dunno about elsewhere) - Foul Brood of either type are dealt with by 'the ultimate solution': colonies are killed and the woodwork burned on site, either by the beekeeper or by 'The Authorities'. Failure to notify, and/or failure to act are treated as crimes, and punishable by law. In some cases, antibiotics can be prescribed and adminstered by qualified vets, but independant acquisition and use by a beekeeper is again considered a crime, and punishable under our laws.
(There was a high profile case recently where a guy 'cut corners' by independant acquisition of antibiotics in order to save time, and told the authorities afterwards of the action he'd taken. He was hung out to dry.)
Why such measures ? Because of the infectious nature of those diseases. But aren't Varroa and Tracheal Mites in the same league ? Well, you'd think so - as they also spread like wildfire and can kill colonies. But these latter two aren't "notifiable conditions" (at least, not over here) - somebody, somewhere, has drawn a legal line distinguishing between these various conditions. On one side of the line, there's complete and total State intolerance. But on the other side, "deal with these as best you can". Seems a bit arbitary to me.
If, in the early days of Varroa introduction, infested colonies had been identified, exclusion zones set up and colonies within them torched - then perhaps the problem could have been stopped at source. Just as is done with Foot and Mouth Disease, 'Mad-Cow Disease', Swine Fever, Bird 'Flu and others.
I suspect the same 'non-approach' will be taken as and when (not 'if') Small Hive Beetle makes itself known upon these shores. Could it just be that the Honey-Bee isn't seen as being in the same economic league as other livestock ?
LJ