History of Lyme disease in Timeline

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

1909: Afzelius presents study on erythema migrans

At a 1909 research conference, 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 and named the lesion erythema migrans.

1911: Description of borrelial lymphocytoma

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

1930: Hellerström Proposes EM and Neurological Symptoms Are Related

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

1946: Experimentation with treatments for EM rashes

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

1948: Lennhoff's Microscopic Observations

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: First treatment of ACA with penicillin

In 1949, Nils Thyresson was the first to treat ACA with penicillin.

1950: Hellerström paper reprinted in an American journal

In 1970, a dermatologist in Wisconsin recognized an EM lesion in a person after recalling a paper by Hellerström that had been reprinted in an American science journal in 1950.

1970: First documented case of EM in the United States

In 1970, Rudolph Scrimenti recognized an EM lesion in a person and based on the European literature, treated the person with penicillin, marking the first documented case of EM in the United States.

1975: First Diagnosis in Lyme, Connecticut

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

1975: Identification 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, leading to the recognition of the syndrome now known as Lyme disease. The investigation was conducted by physicians and researchers, including David Snydman, Allen Steere, and Stephen Malawista.

1976: Disease Named Lyme Disease

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

1980: Early Lyme Disease Research and Tick Examination

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

June 1982: Burgdorfer's Findings Published in Science

In June 1982, Willy Burgdorfer published his findings in Science, identifying the spirochete as the cause of Lyme disease. The spirochete was subsequently named Borrelia burgdorferi in his honor.

1986: Introduction of voluntary reporting

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

1987: Identification of B. burgdorferi in Tick Saliva

In 1987, B. burgdorferi spirochetes were identified in tick saliva, confirming 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: CDC implements national surveillance of Lyme disease

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

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.

1992: Jaenson's Observations on European Roe Deer

Jaenson & al. thought in 1992 that the European roe deer Capreolus capreolus does not appear to serve as a major reservoir of B. burgdorferi, but it is important for feeding the ticks.

December 1998: FDA Approval of LYMErix

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

1998: Availability of LYMErix

LYMErix was available as of 1998.

1999: Reported cases of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Mexico

Between 1999 and 2000, four cases of Borrelia burgdorferi infections were reported in Mexico.

2000: Reported cases of Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Mexico

Between 1999 and 2000, four cases of Borrelia burgdorferi infections were reported in Mexico.

February 2002: LYMErix withdrawn 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: Discontinuation of LYMErix vaccine

In 2002, the LYMErix vaccine, which was previously produced for Lyme disease, was discontinued due to insufficient demand.

2002: Availability of LYMErix

The vaccine LYMErix was available until 2002.

2003: Dilution Effect Hypothesis

In 2003, researchers began to postulate whether the dilution effect could mitigate the spread of Lyme disease. The dilution effect is a hypothesis that predicts that an increase in host biodiversity will result in a decrease in the number of vectors infected with B. burgdorferi.

2004: Publication of Lab 257

In 2004, the book "Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Plum Island Germ Laboratory" fueled conspiracy theories about Lyme disease being a biological weapon.

Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory

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2005: Climate change impact on Lyme disease

A 2005 study projected that climate change would lead to a 213% increase in suitable vector habitat by 2080.

2005: Lyme disease cases in the US

In 2005, the average rate of Lyme disease infection was 31.6 cases for every 100,000 persons in the ten states where it was most common.

2007: Borrelia burgdorferi infections in Mexico

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

2008: Environmental variables influencing Lyme disease risk

A 2008 review concluded that the presence of forests consistently elevated the risk of Lyme disease, with other environmental variables showing little concordance between studies.

2008: Release of Under Our Skin documentary

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

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2009: Tick infection rate in the UK

In 2009, tests on pet dogs indicated that around 2.5% of ticks in the UK may be infected with Lyme disease, higher than previously thought.

2009: Lyme Disease Cases in the UK

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

2010: Mandatory Reporting Regulations

In 2010, mandatory reporting, limited to laboratory test results only, was 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 Otzi the Iceman

The 2010 autopsy of Ötzi the Iceman 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 in the UK.

2012: Model-based prediction of tick range expansion

A 2012 model-based prediction suggested that the range of the I. scapularis tick would expand into Canada by 46 km/year over the next decade, driven by warming climatic temperatures.

July 2017: FDA fast track designation for VLA15

In July 2017, the FDA granted fast track designation to the hexavalent (OspA) protein subunit-based vaccine candidate VLA15 developed by Valneva.

2018: Dilution Effect Support Limited

As of 2018, the dilution effect is only supported in the Northeastern United States and has been disproven in other parts of the world with high Lyme disease incidence rates.

April 2020: Pfizer partnership with Valneva for VLA15

In April 2020, Pfizer paid $130 million for the rights to the vaccine, and the companies are developing it together, performing multiple phase 2 trials.

2022: Phase 3 trial of VLA15 scheduled

In 2022, a phase 3 trial of VLA15 was scheduled, recruiting volunteers at test sites located across the northeastern United States and in Europe.

2022: Surveillance case definition update

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

2023: Lyme disease vaccine trials and prevention

As of 2023, clinical trials for proposed human vaccines for Lyme disease were ongoing, but no vaccine was available, and prevention methods focused on avoiding tick bites through protective clothing and insect repellents.

2023: Availability of human vaccines

As of 2023, no human vaccines for Lyme disease were available, and research was ongoing.

2023: Treatment of Lyme Disease Syndrome

In 2023, there was no proven treatment for Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome and a review found similarities between PTLDS and ME/CFS.

2024: Analysis of Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome

In 2024, an analysis concluded that evidence to connect BYS to Borrelia bacteria was lacking.

2024: Conspiracy theories spread due to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In 2024, conspiracy theories about the origins of Lyme disease were further spread due to attention from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

2025: Conspiracy theories spread due to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In 2025, conspiracy theories about the origins of Lyme disease were further spread due to attention from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

2080: Projected climate change impact on Lyme disease

A 2005 study projected that by 2080 climate change would cause an overall 213% increase in suitable vector habitat, with northward expansions in Canada, increased suitability in the central U.S., and decreased suitable habitat and vector retraction in the southern U.S.