WHILE DOG OWNERS have been able to vaccinate their pets against Lyme disease since the 1990s, the first human Lyme vaccine, LYMErix, was taken off the market by its manufacturer in 2002, after only four years. At the time, sales were low, partly because the market was small-about 20,000 cases a year in the United States and partly because of unproven claims that the vaccine caused arthritis.
Since then, cases have skyrocketed. Climate changes play a factor: ticks thrive in warm, humid environments, and their habitat is expanding. They live in wooded areas, on the edges of forests, under tree canopies and in tall grasses. Once most common in the northeastern, midwestern and mid-Atlantic states, the tick-and Lyme disease has since spread south and west.
This story is from the March/April 2024 edition of Reader's Digest US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March/April 2024 edition of Reader's Digest US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
OIL'S VERY DIRTY SECRET
More than 100,000 abandoned oil and gas wells dot the land, spewing methane and pollutants. One former energy company executive has made it his mission to cap them.
What Were You Inking?!?
Not everyone still loves their tattoos 20 years (or even 20 minutes) later
So Was There a Second Date?
Readers share their stories of unforgettable first dates, from studs to duds
The Calendar Girls
After Molly Baker's husband died suddenly, her friends organized a year's worth of support
A SINKING FEELING
A mother and daughter are trapped below the deck of a capsized boat. A shrinking air pocket is the only thing keeping them alive.
You're Cordially Invited
Starring Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon
The Bike Vigilantes
Your bicycle just got stolen. These volunteers will get it back.
All Creatures Great & Small
Starring Nicholas Ralph and Samuel West
Yep, There's an At-Home Test for That
Which ones should you trust to diagnose your health?
How Much Should You Weigh, Really?
The advice has moved beyond the old BMI (body mass index) measure