Tasha Derrett shed some tears while exterminating one of her hives because it had been infected with American foulbrood, commonly known as AFB, on Thursday and then burned and buried it yesterday.
Her hive had been contaminated in a recent outbreak of AFB in Mosgiel that started in June.
Ms Derrett said she had no choice but to destroy the hive because it had been contaminated with the disease and there was a risk it would spread to other nearby hives.
Bees travelled about 2km and spread the disease to other hives by carrying contaminated honey, so it was vital to contain the disease as quickly as possible, she said.
Last year, commercial honey producer Springbank Honey, of North Canterbury, was ordered to burn more than 10,000 of its beehives and beekeeping equipment after AFB was identified in spore testing.
Ms Derrett said hive numbers were building in winter and it was crucial hives were checked for the disease.
She found the AFB in her hive about a week ago.
"I feel bad that my hives got it, but I’d feel worse if it turned out my hive was one that was a source for a lot of other infections," she said.
Dunedin Beekeepers Club president Jane Dawber said Ms Derrett was doing the right thing and encouraged other beekeepers to do the same if they found the disease.
They needed to burn the bees as well as the equipment to make sure the contaminated surfaces were taken care of.
She said beekeepers also needed to register all of their hives so they were alerted if AFB was in their area.
The club was happy to help anyone who was unsure what to do.
Its next meeting was on September 13 at the Southern Youth Development building in Maori Rd.
