{
  "id": 3107697,
  "title": "Glacier retreat could promote the spread of diseases among bees",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/glacier-retreat-could-promote-the-spread-of-diseases-among-bees",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-24T20:20:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-glacier-retreat-diseases-bees.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A scientific study from the University of Lausanne and the University of Milan in Switzerland reveals that the melting of glaciers could lead to a rise in the transmission of diseases among both honeybees and wild bees. As glaciers recede, new vegetation slowly takes hold, altering the distribution of plant species. This shift in vegetation may, in turn, change the way bees utilize available resources, potentially increasing the likelihood of pathogen exchange. The researchers investigated five different pathogens, three viruses and two parasites, in both honeybee and wild bee populations in the Mont Miné glacier foreland, located in the Valais region. Their findings show that all five pathogens were present in honeybee populations in areas recently affected by glacier retreat, while wild bees only harbored two of the five. In older areas, the prevalence of deformed wing virus (DWV), a virus often associated with honeybees, also increased in wild bee populations. This discrepancy could be due to the way different bee species interact with available floral resources. Honeybees tend to focus on specific plant species that are less frequently visited by wild bees, thereby reducing the chances of pathogen transmission between the two groups. However, as glaciers continue to retreat and key floral resources become scarcer, bees may be forced to rely more heavily on shared resources, potentially increasing opportunities for pathogen transmission. The study's authors emphasize that these findings represent an often overlooked consequence of climate change. While the primary impact of glacier retreat is the loss of ice and reduced water for hydropower production, it also reshapes the entire ecosystem that develops in its place, influencing the complex network of interactions among organisms. The researchers call for further investigation into this phenomenon across various regions affected by glacier retreat and varying bee densities to better understand how changing mountain landscapes might impact pollinator health. Understanding these processes is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies aimed at protecting pollinators and the vital ecosystem services they provide, according to Gianalberto Losapio, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the University of Lausanne's Faculty of Geosciences and Environment and at the University of Milan.",
  "summary": "A study conducted in the Swiss Alps by the University of Lausanne and the University of Milan shows that glacier retreat and changing vegetation could influence the spread of certain pathogens between honeybees and wild bees.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}