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Will A New Drug Make Ticks Bug Off?

Summer campers, mountain hikers and backyard barbecuers got some good news last week: researchers have found a way to prevent Lyme disease. Lyme disease is carried by tiny, bloodsucking bugs called ticks. It most often affects people who spend a lot of time outdoors. Last year there were 14,000 reported cases of Lyme disease, which is usually carried by deer ticks.

The disease was discovered in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1976. It is most common in wooded areas on the East Coast and parts of the Midwest.

Until now, doctors have been able to treat Lyme disease only after a person has been infected. Symptoms include a skin rash, fever and muscle aches. Lyme disease, if not treated, can cause lasting damage to the joints and nervous system.

Two drug companies have developed vaccines. In tests, both prevented people from catching Lyme disease. "There's no such thing as a perfect vaccine, but we were delighted with the results," said Dr. Leonard Sigal, one of the researchers.

If further tests prove the vaccines to be safe, they should be available in a few years. That's good news, even if you hate shots!

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