World's 1st Vaccine to Save Bees

Preventing "Insect Apocalypse" Critical to World Food Supplies

Source:  Stock Image of Bee 

Medical Innovation Breakthrough from Finland

Bees are vital to the production of global food supplies.  They help fertilize 3 out of 4 crops globally.  They do so by transferring pollen from male to female flowers.  Bees are being wiped out by disease.  Scientists in Finland have innovated the world's first vaccine to protect bees against disease.

Drastic Bee Population Decline

There has been a drastic decline in bee numbers that could cause a global food crisis.  The bees have been dying from what's called "colony collapse disorder", a mysterious bee epidemic worldwide.  A United Nations study indicates that 40% of the world's bees and butterflies face extinction.  Scientists warn that will result in higher food prices and food shortages.

Medical Innovation Breakthrough

The new vaccine was developed by scientists at Helsinki University.  It works by giving the bees resistance to fight microbial diseases that can be fatal to the pollinators. The vaccine involves a protein and certain bacteria that pass on immunity to the next generation through the queen bee.  The queen receives the vaccine by a sugar cube.  

Next Steps

For the scientists who innovated this breakthrough vaccine, they now face customary regulatory hurdles to clear.  They think it will take 4 to 5 years to reach market.