Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease Latest News

The U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and France’s Valneva recently said their experimental Lyme disease vaccine showed more than 70% efficacy in a late-stage trial.

About Lyme Disease

• Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious illness caused by a type of bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. 
• It primarily affects the skin, nervous system, heart, and joints.
• It was named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, United States, where it was first identified in children in 1976.
• It is most commonly reported in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia.

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Lyme Disease Transmission

• It’s transmitted (spread) to humans through a tick bite. 
• Not all tick bites cause Lyme disease. Only deer ticks (also called black-legged ticks) can spread the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
• These ticks are often found in grassy, wooded, or bushy areas, and they can attach to the skin without being noticed.
• Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can travel to different parts of the body and cause a wide range of symptoms.
• It cannot spread between humans or from pets to humans, through air, food, or water.  Lice, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies also do not transmit it.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

• Lyme disease occurs in stages. The signs and symptoms of each stage can overlap.
• In many cases, Lyme disease begins with a red circular rash around the site of the tick bite, often described as looking like a bull’s-eye. 
• Other early signs may include fever, body aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Untreated Lyme disease can cause severe arthritis and damage the heart and nervous system.

Lyme Disease Treatment

• Most cases are treatable with antibiotics, although recovery can take time, especially for those who are left undiagnosed in the early stages.
• Even after treatment, some symptoms may linger.

Source: MD