News from the BBKA

The Sting Allergy survey is now closed. 

Many thanks to all those who contributed, further information will be published in BBKA News as it becomes available.

This was first hinted at in the last BBKA News and is now ready to proceed. The survey is conducted via a specialised web site and takes very little time. You do not have to give your name and the survey is subject to all the ethical controls of any medical study. The information below is from the researchers. A more complete article will appear in BBKA News as soon as possible, as will the results later in the year. If you want to see more information now, e-mail your request to Chris Deaves

(c_deaves@compuserve.com).

Please respond if you are a beekeeper, the survey is not just about severe reations to stings, it is trying (in part) to establish the extent of this among our community so ALL RESULTS ARE IMPORTANT.

"Can we sting you for some help?

All UK beekeepers are invited to take part in a nationwide survey. Doctors at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital have designed an easy to complete web based questionnaire to establish, for the first time, how common bee venom allergy is in the UK beekeeping community and how historically it has been managed. The survey takes 5-7 minutes to complete and the link that appears at the end of this paragraph will take you straight to the survey.

If you would like more information about bee venom allergy the next BBKA news has an article with all the ins and outs of this often frustrating problem for some beekeepers.

Thank you all in advance for agreeing to take part in this bee venom survey, your responses are greatly valued and time appreciated.

Please use this link to reach the survey:

Bee Sting Allergy Survey

Dr A Richter and Dr MT Krishna

Department of Immunology and Allergy

Birmingham Heartlands Hospital"