February 9, 2016

The Centers for Disease Control with the Mayo Clinic and health officials from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota found recently that the bacteria Borrelia mayonii can also cause Lyme disease, as well as the previously known Borrelia burgdorferi. 

The newly discovered bacteria causes the usual initial symptoms of Lyme, as well as nausea and vomiting. It also does not present with the typical bulls-eye rash of B. burgdorferi, but instead causes diffuse rashes and a higher concentration of bacteria in the blood.

The newly found bacteria has been found in at least two counties in Northwestern Wisconsin in deer ticks. It is likely that the bacteria is limited to the upper Midwestern states. Current tests used for Lyme seem to also detect B. mayonii,  and treatment is the same.