History of Lyme disease in Timeline

Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is a tick-borne illness caused by Borrelia bacteria transmitted through Ixodes ticks. As the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere, it is prevalent during spring and early summer.

1909: Arvid Afzelius presented study about erythema migrans

At a research conference in 1909, Swedish dermatologist Arvid Afzelius presented a study about an expanding, ring-like lesion he had observed in an older woman following the bite of a sheep tick, naming the lesion erythema migrans.

1911: Description of borrelial lymphocytoma

In 1911, the skin condition now known as borrelial lymphocytoma was first described.

1930: Sven Hellerström proposes relationship between EM and neurological symptoms

In 1930, Swedish dermatologist Sven Hellerström was the first to propose that erythema migrans (EM) and neurological symptoms following a tick bite were related.

1946: Experiments treating EM rashes with spirochete-killing substances

Starting in 1946, facilities in Sweden experimented with treating erythema migrans (EM) rashes with substances known to kill spirochetes.

1948: Carl Lennhoff's microscopic observations of spirochetes

In 1948, Carl Lennhoff published on his use of a special stain to microscopically observe what he believed were spirochetes in various types of skin lesions, including EM.

1949: Nils Thyresson treats ACA with penicillin

In 1949, Nils Thyresson was the first to treat ACA (Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans) with penicillin.

1950: Hellerström paper reprinted in American science journal

In 1950, a paper by Hellerström was reprinted in an American science journal, which later led to the first documented case of EM in the United States in 1970.

1970: First documented case of EM in the United States

In 1970, Rudolph Scrimenti recognized an EM lesion in a person after recalling a paper by Hellerström, marking the first documented case of EM in the United States, and he treated the person with penicillin.

1975: Lyme disease diagnosed

In 1975, Lyme disease was diagnosed as a separate condition for the first time in Lyme, Connecticut.

1975: Discovery of Lyme disease cluster

In 1975, a cluster of cases initially thought to be juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was identified in Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut. This led to the recognition of the syndrome now known as Lyme disease, investigated by physicians and researchers from the Epidemic Intelligence Service and Yale University.

1976: Disease referred to as Lyme disease

Since 1976 the disease is most often referred to as Lyme disease, Lyme borreliosis or simply borreliosis.

1980: Steere begins testing antibiotic regimens; Benach provides ticks to Burgdorfer

In 1980, Allen Steere et al. started testing antibiotic regimens on adults with Lyme disease. Also in 1980, Jorge Benach provided Willy Burgdorfer with I. dammini ticks from Shelter Island, New York, leading to Burgdorfer's discovery of spirochetes in the ticks.

June 1982: Burgdorfer publishes findings in Science

In June 1982, Willy Burgdorfer published his findings in Science, identifying spirochetes in ticks and people with Lyme disease. The spirochete was subsequently named Borrelia burgdorferi in his honor.

1986: Voluntary reporting of Lyme disease introduced in the UK

In 1986 voluntary reporting of Lyme disease was introduced in the UK, when 68 cases were recorded in the UK and Ireland combined.

1987: Identification of B. burgdorferi in tick saliva

In 1987, B. burgdorferi spirochetes were identified in tick saliva, which confirmed that transmission occurred via tick salivary glands.

1988: Lyme disease cases in the UK

In 1988, there were 23 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.

1989: Seropositivity among forestry workers in the New Forest

A 1989 report found that 25% of forestry workers in the New Forest were seropositive for Lyme disease.

1990: Lyme disease cases in the UK

In 1990, there were 19 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.

1991: National surveillance of Lyme disease cases

In 1991, the CDC implemented national surveillance of Lyme disease cases.

1992: Jaenson & al. research on the European roe deer

In 1992, Jaenson & al. researched the European roe deer and suggested that it did not appear to serve as a major reservoir of B. burgdorferi.

1992: First reported case of BYS in Brazil

In 1992, the first reported case of Baggio–Yoshinari syndrome (BYS) in Brazil was made in Cotia, São Paulo.

December 1998: FDA approved LYMErix

On December 21, 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved LYMErix for persons of ages 15 through 70.

1998: LYMErix vaccine availability

In 1998, the LYMErix vaccine became available to the public.

1999: Lyme disease cases in Mexico

Between 1999 and 2000, there were four reported cases of Lyme disease in Mexico.

2000: Lyme disease cases in Mexico

Between 1999 and 2000, there were four reported cases of Lyme disease in Mexico.

February 2002: Withdrawal of LYMErix from the U.S. market

In February 2002, GlaxoSmithKline withdrew LYMErix from the U.S. market due to negative media coverage and fears of vaccine side effects.

2002: LYMErix vaccine discontinued

In 2002, the LYMErix vaccine was discontinued.

2003: Researchers postulate dilution effect

In 2003, some researchers began to postulate that the dilution effect could mitigate the spread of Lyme disease.

2004: Publication of 'Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory'

In 2004, the book 'Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory' fueled conspiracy theories alleging that Lyme disease was a biological weapon originating in the Plum Island laboratory.

2005: Climate change and Lyme disease

A 2005 study projected that climate change would cause an overall 213% increase in suitable vector habitat by 2080.

2005: Lyme disease cases in the United States

In 2005, the average rate of Lyme disease infection in the ten most affected states in the United States was 31.6 cases for every 100,000 persons.

2007: Endemic Lyme disease in Mexico

A 2007 study suggests Borrelia burgdorferi infections are endemic to Mexico, based on four cases reported between 1999 and 2000.

2008: Review of ecological and environmental factors

In 2008, a review of published studies concluded that the presence of forests or forested areas was the only variable that consistently elevated the risk of Lyme disease.

2008: Release of 'Under Our Skin' documentary

In 2008, the documentary Under Our Skin promoted controversial and unrecognized theories about "chronic Lyme disease".

Loading Video...

2009: Lyme disease cases in the UK

In 2009, there were 973 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.

2009: Infected ticks in the UK

Tests on pet dogs carried out throughout the country in 2009 indicated that around 2.5% of ticks in the UK may be infected with Lyme disease.

2010: Mandatory reporting of Lyme disease in the UK

In 2010, mandatory reporting, limited to laboratory test results only, is required in the UK under the provisions of the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010.

2010: Lyme disease cases in the UK

In 2010, there were 953 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK.

2010: Borrelia DNA in Ötzi the Iceman

The 2010 autopsy of Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy, revealed the presence of the DNA sequence of Borrelia burgdorferi making him the earliest known human with Lyme disease.

2011: Increase in Lyme disease cases in the UK

Provisional figures for the first 3 quarters of 2011 showed a 26% increase on the same period in 2010.

2012: Model-based prediction of tick range expansion

In 2012, a model-based prediction suggested that the range of the I. scapularis tick will expand into Canada by 46 km/year over the next decade.

July 2017: FDA fast track designation for VLA15

In July 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted fast track designation to Valneva's hexavalent (OspA) protein subunit-based vaccine candidate VLA15.

2018: Dilution effect disproved in some regions

As of 2018, the dilution effect is only supported in the Northeastern United States, and has been disproved in other parts of the world that also experience high Lyme disease incidence rates

April 2020: Pfizer acquires rights to VLA15 vaccine

In April 2020, Pfizer paid $130 million for the rights to the VLA15 vaccine.

2022: Phase 3 trial of VLA15

A phase 3 trial of VLA15 was scheduled for late 2022, recruiting volunteers across the northeastern United States and in Europe.

2022: Updated Lyme disease surveillance case definition

In 2022, the surveillance case definition classifies cases as confirmed, probable, and suspect.

2022: Phase 3 trial for VLA15 vaccine candidate

In the third quarter of 2022, the vaccine candidate VLA15 was scheduled to start a phase 3 trial.

2023: Clinical trials of Lyme disease vaccines

As of 2023, clinical trials of proposed human vaccines for Lyme disease were underway, but no vaccine was available to the public. There are, however, several vaccines available for the prevention of Lyme disease in dogs.

2023: No human Lyme disease vaccines available

As of 2023, no human vaccines for Lyme disease were available to the public.

2023: Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome

In 2023, a review found that Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) had similar pathogenesis despite different infectious origins.