A rare strain of Lyme disease has been identified in New York for the first time, marking an unexpected development for researchers studying tick borne illnesses.
Most Lyme disease infections in the United States are caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. However,… pic.twitter.com/WpB17JZaI2
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) June 8, 2026
Factcheck:
- Until now, this strain had only been found in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- It was detected in an adult patient in Herkimer County (upstate New York, near the Adirondacks) who had not traveled recently.
- Researchers also found infected ticks on the patient’s wooded property, confirming local transmission.
- Borrelia mayonii can cause Lyme disease symptoms that are sometimes more severe or different than the more common Borrelia burgdorferi strain (including higher rates of nausea, vomiting, and neurological issues).