Lyme disease is a crippling disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia, which can be transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Ticks are not all carriers of the bacteria, but it is better to protect yourself from their bite! After several years of research, a French laboratory would be able to offer a vaccine against Lyme disease within a few years. Santé sur le net takes stock of these advances!
A very promising vaccine in development
While it is fairly easy to treat the disease with antibiotics when it is caught on time, it becomes much more complicated if it is not diagnosed early. Indeed, the disease will progress and neurological and articular signs may appear in the weeks or even months following the bite. It then causes many sequelae such as muscle pain, fatigue, headaches, and heart problems …
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic mobilizing many teams to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, other scientific research continues.
A Nantes laboratory working on a vaccine against Lyme disease has just announced at the end of July the positive results of its first phase 2 clinical trial. Its vaccine, VLA15, must protect against the 6 subspecies of Borrelia, which are found in Europe and the United States. The vaccine has been tested on 572 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 65. It was given as 3 injections, each 1 month apart. The level of antibodies produced one month after the last injection was measured and compared to that of a control group that received placebo injections. VLA15 elicited an elevated immune response in 81.5% to 95.8% of patients, depending on age and dose administered. In addition, no severe adverse effects were detected during the year following this trial.
The next steps in the development of this promising vaccine are to test more adults, as well as children, and determine if boosters are needed to provide good immunity. If all goes well, the vaccine could be available around 2025.
Protect yourself well during walks in the countryside
The Lyme disease affects 250,000 people in Europe every year. So while waiting for the arrival of a vaccine, we advise you to avoid tick bites. These are present from March to October and live less than 1,500 meters above sea level in wooded areas and tall grass. It is therefore essential to cover your arms and legs with long clothes and boots, even in summer when it is hot.
You can also apply a repellent to the body. Many products exist and generally contain the same molecules as those used to repel mosquitoes. Make sure on the leaflet that your product has been tested on ticks.
Ticks: mistakes to avoid
When you return from a walk, inspect your body to see if you have been bitten by a tick. If this is the case, choose a tick puller suitable for the size of the tick in order to remove it from your skin. Never remove the tick with your fingers.
A noter ! Do not use tweezers to remove the tick, as the head may stick in the skin. Do not hesitate to buy a tick extractor marketed in pharmacies.
Once the tick is removed, clean the wound with an antiseptic, then monitor the area for 1 month. If a red patch appears on the stung area, see a doctor, as you have most likely contracted Lyme disease.
With these tips, make the most of your walks, but don’t forget that our animal friends can also catch ticks: also watch your animal at the end of your walks!
Ticks & Lyme disease in France.
Suzanne L., Pharmacist & Scientific Writer
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Pharmacist & Scientific Writer
Specialized in infectious diseases
Write reliable scientific content with verified sources in accordance with our HIC charter.
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