Vaccine Approved

Sun., June 27, 1999

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

Lyme disease

LYMErix has become the first vaccine to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use to help prevent Lyme Disease.

Manufactured by Philadelphia-based SmithKline Beecham, FDA trials have found LYMErix to be effective in preventing the infection, which is transmitted by certain types of ticks.

The most common tick-borne illness in the United States, 99,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported between 1982 and 1996. Although infections have occurred in 48 states including Washington, the disease is most prevalent in the Northeast, upper Midwest and Pacific Coast regions.

Lyme disease symptoms usually include a ring-shaped rash, headache, fever, joint aches and other flu-like symptoms. If untreated, the disease can lead to arthritis and heart abnormalities.

Info: (800) 596-3749, ext. 500.

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Vaccine Approved

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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