The CDC Is reporting the discovery of a new species of bacteria (Borrelia mayonii) that causes Lyme disease in people. Until now, only one species (Borrelia burgdorferi) was believed to cause Lyme disease in North America.
Scientists at the Mayo Clinic first suspected the possibility of new bacteria after lab tests from 6 people with suspected Lyme disease produced unusual results,
According to the report, based on the small number of patients identified, while both types of Lyme bacteria cause flu-like symptoms, the most recent one discovered also results in nausea, vomiting, and a diffuse rash, compared to B. burgdorferi which causes the single “bulls-eye” rash. So far, the new Lyme species found only in upper midwest
The new species was not identified in any of the approximately 25,000 blood samples from residents of 43 other states with suspected tickborne disease taken during the same period, including states in the northeast and mid-Atlantic region where Lyme disease is common.
