The first bee vaccine was approved by the United States government. American foulbrood is a disease that constantly affects bee colonies. The disease affected pollination.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has licensed the vaccine created by Dalan Animal Health, a US biotech company.

In the first phase the vaccine will be available to commercial beekeepers. American foulbrood is a disease caused by larvae of the bacterium Paenibacillus and can weaken or kill bees. At the moment there is no solution for this, and in some areas of the United States a quarter of the bees suffered from this disease and had to be killed and the colonies burned to stop the disease.

American foulbrood can be easily recognized because the larvae are brown and have a pestilential smell. The vaccine created by Dalan Animal Health was produced by incorporating a small amount of the bacteria into the honeybees feed. Thus, the bee larvae will have immunity to the American foulbrood and will reduce deaths.

"In the ideal scenario, the Queen can be fed a cocktail containing the vaccine," the vaccine manufacturers said.

Bees are used for pollination in the United States, mostly for almond or blueberry plantations. Often times, those who have bee colonies transport them across the country to help with pollination, as climate change has dramatically reduced the number of wild bees.