Nation IN BRIEF : MISSOURI : New Lyme Disease Danger Reported

The bacteria that causes Lyme disease has been found in two more species of ticks, raising the possibility that the illness threatens the entire United States, scientists said. The disease is spread primarily by the deer tick, which is found in the Northeast and Midwest, and the Western black-legged tick, found along the West Coast, researchers at St. Louis University said. But the researchers said they have now found the Lyme disease bacteria in the lone star tick and the American dog tick. The lone star tick is widespread throughout Eastern and South-Central states, said Dorothy Feir of the university’s biology department. Spread by a bacteria, the disease causes flu-like symptoms and joint inflammation. It was first identified in and drew its name from Old Lyme, Conn., in 1975.