Fake or real

my findings

Pinetree: " my findings "

On reading your findings, my assumption is they do not work well.

Many years ago, about 20, I took the lyme disease vaccine offered at the time, allegedly 70 percent effective. I have never caught lyme disease so maybe it works. To me, effective vaccines is likely the best long term solution to tick borne illnesses, yet with the current political situation, I doubt much research will be done to use this solution. This is unfortunate because tick borne illnesses are increasing, and we are able to develop better vaccines today. I can see some saying just take more vitamin A or whatever and you will be fine.

Moonpath: "Many years ago, about 20, I took the lyme disease vaccine offered at the time, allegedly 70 percent effective. I have never caught lyme disease so maybe it works. To me, effective vaccines is likely the best long term solution to tick borne illnesses, yet with the current political situation, I doubt much research will be done to use this solution. This is unfortunate because tick borne illnesses are increasing, and we are able to develop better vaccines today. I can see some saying just take more vitamin A or whatever and you will be fine. "

A vaccine will be the way to go, I know they have it for other animals, maybe soon for us. Yes, I have had lymne disease related disease twice. If you think you got it get the medicine right away. I did and got cured fast, no after effects. Others I know have got it and delayed treatment, they were never 100% cured.

Moonpath: "Many years ago, about 20, I took the lyme disease vaccine offered at the time, allegedly 70 percent effective. I have never caught lyme disease so maybe it works. To me, effective vaccines is likely the best long term solution to tick borne illnesses, yet with the current political situation, I doubt much research will be done to use this solution. This is unfortunate because tick borne illnesses are increasing, and we are able to develop better vaccines today. I can see some saying just take more vitamin A or whatever and you will be fine. "

It's coming.

A Lyme disease vaccine, VLA15, is expected to be available in 2026, subject to positive data and regulatory approval. Pfizer and Valneva, the developers of VLA15, plan to submit applications to the FDA and EMA in 2026

By the way, your vaccination is almost certainly not effective anymore. From what I can find it was not intended to be a one-and-done deal, but instead needed periodic boosters.

You are probably correct, but when I took it, you needed to get several boosters at several week intervals, which I did. They never did offer another booster shot after that as far as I know. And more tick borne illnesses are on the way. Just today, in the Trib, they mention a new one with a death rate of 10 percent. Fortunately its uncommon now.

Moonpath: "You are probably correct, but when I took it, you needed to get several boosters at several week intervals, which I did. They never did offer another booster shot after that as far as I know. And more tick borne illnesses are on the way. Just today, in the Trib, they mention a new one with a death rate of 10 percent. Fortunately its uncommon now. "

Tribune

Pinetree: "

Moonpath: "You are probably correct, but when I took it, you needed to get several boosters at several week intervals, which I did. They never did offer another booster shot after that as far as I know. And more tick borne illnesses are on the way. Just today, in the Trib, they mention a new one with a death rate of 10 percent. Fortunately its uncommon now. "

Tribune "

That is very scary and the speed of transmission-unreal;
immunocompromised.

According to MDH data, Minnesota reported fewer than five cases each year from 2008-2015, except for in 2011 when 11 cases were reported. Between 2016-2023, there were five to eight cases reported each year, except for in 2018 when there were three cases. MDH does not have Powassan virus data for 2020.

The emerging number of Powassan cases in Minnesota is one of the reasons the National Institutes of Health gave Matthew Aliota, associate professor at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, a $3.5 million grant to study the virus in 2024, Aliota said. Aliota is studying the virus in two of the nation’s epicenters over the course of the five-year grant: Minnesota and New York.



About 10% of people who are clinically diagnosed with the virus die, Aliota said. Those who survive a severe bout of the virus may suffer long-term symptoms like headaches and memory problems.

Research indicates it can take minutes from when a tick bites for the virus to pass to humans, he said.

“The Powassan virus is ... an understudied virus,” he said. “It’s one more thing on the list of reasons of why you should be diligent in terms of taking precautions to prevent tick bites.”

Aliota said one of the main issues with trying to find cases of Powassan is that it only shows up in the blood for a short time. Aliota said it’s hard to know for certain how long it shows up in human blood, but in animals it stays in blood for about seven to 10 days. Plus, someone who contracts it may confuse symptoms like aches and pains for a different illness.

I never had a tick bite, and then all of a sudden, on my spring trip of 2023, I had 6 ticks embedded in my skin on one trip. I brushed off many more that year besides those. Now, especially in early spring trips, I watch very carefully...

Looks like it might be time to introduce guinea fowl to the BW.

Dreamer: "I never had a tick bite, and then all of a sudden, on my spring trip of 2023, I had 6 ticks embedded in my skin on one trip. I brushed off many more that year besides those. Now, especially in early spring trips, I watch very carefully..."

This is why clothing is important. I had been using ex officio insect shield but they no longer make this. I have found LL Bean makes an anti insect clothing and have just started to use it, so no reports yet. I am careful to tuck my pants into my socks to force any ticks upward. I also use an insect shield shirt that is light colored. I also do a tick check in the evening. This not fool proof but it has seemed to work for me.

When a vaccine becomes available, Permethrine and common sense will still stay the first line of defense, I think. Antibiotics help, but If one gets a tick bite on a trip it could be weeks before it's treated. Clothing with insect shield is expensive and the availability is limited. And I never wear short pants/sleeves in the woods.

As a dog owner, I've wondered if it would be possible to develop something like Simparica for humans.

I have used permetherin for the last few years, spray it on my clothes a couple days before we leave so it dries. It is not the cheapest but I have found that it works well. I do wear shorts on hot days but I use the permetherin mainly to keep the MN state bird away and it really helps, especially evenings and portages.