In a development sure to be of interest to anyone who enjoys hiking in the Northeast, Massachusetts researchers say they hope to begin human testing on an anti-Lyme injection next year.
According to an article on WBUR.org, researchers at MassBiologics are developing an anti-Lyme injection meant to last several months, long enough to get through tick season.
The researchers report that work on manufacturing the anti-Lyme antibodies has been progressing well, and they expect to begin testing the safety of the shot in humans by mid-2020.
Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria and is transferred to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
The Northeast has the highest concentration of Lyme disease cases in the country.