The Lyme disease vaccine–a public health perspective
By Linda on Jan 26, 2011 in Infections
Excerpt:
Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochetal agent Borrelia burgdoferi,
is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States. In 1998, the
US Food and Drug Administration approved a recombinant Lyme disease vaccine
that was later voluntarily withdrawn from the market by the manufacturer.
Current Lyme disease prevention efforts focus on a combination of methods
and approaches, including area acaricides, landscape management,
host-targeted interventions, management of deer populations, and personal
protective measures, such as the use of insect repellant and tick checks.
Although these methods are generally safe and relatively inexpensive, the
primary limitations of these methods are that their effectiveness has been
difficult to demonstrate conclusively and that rates of compliance are
generally poor. An effective human Lyme disease vaccine that has been
adequately evaluated in the highest-risk population groups could be very
beneficial in preventing Lyme disease; however, it would need to meet high
standards regarding safety, efficacy, cost, and public acceptance.
