A Montana man who discovered the underlying cause of Lyme disease died Monday in Hamilton.
Dr. Wilhelm "Willy" Burgdorfer was born in Switzerland where he earned his undergraduate and PhD degrees in Zoology, Parasitology and Bacteriology.
Burgdorfer moved to Montana's Bitterroot Valley in 1951 to work as a research fellow at Hamilton's Rocky Mountain Laboratory. He became a U.S. citizen in 1957 and then joined the staff at R.M.L as a medical entomologist.
Tom Schwan, a long-time colleague and friend says Burgdorfer’s discovery in 1982 led to the development of an antibiotic and laid the groundwork for a possible vaccine.
“He excelled," said Schwan. "He was an outstanding scientists. Kind, professional, a good sense of humor, and he was just an amazing fellow. He made his home here, raised his family here. We’re glad he didn’t leave.”
Burgdorfer gained worldwide acclaim in 1982 for discovering the tick-borne bacterial pathogen responsible for Lyme disease which can cause fever, headaches, fatigue and rashes. That pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, was named after Dr. Burgdorfer. He was 89. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 this Saturday afternoon at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Hamilton.
