According to Justin Timberlake, he has Lyme disease.
How to Stay Safe and What You Should Know About This Tick-Borne Illness
Every year, millions of Americans receive treatment for Lyme disease, and the number is growing. According to Justin Timberlake, he was been given a Lyme disease diagnosis. Lyme disease is a tick-borne sickness that affects millions of Americans each year and is still becoming more common. Timberlake posted on Instagram on Thursday, saying, > "I was diagnosed with Lyme disease while dealing with certain health difficulties. You are aware of how emotionally and physically taxing it may be whether you have experienced it yourself or know someone who has.
The singer just finished a two-year, forty-one-stop globe tour. >
"I was definitely shocked when I was first diagnosed," he added. "But at least I now know why I was feeling so exhausted and ill, or why I was having such severe nerve pain on stage."
Fans had criticized some of Timberlake's recent performances, saying they lacked spark and energy. He acknowledged that he even thought about calling off his tour, but in the end, > "The pleasure I derive from performing surpasses any short-term physical stress my body may be experiencing."
Additionally, Timberlake stated that he now wishes to encourage those who are coping with the illness and increase awareness of it. > "I wish to contribute to the efforts of those battling this illness." Over 89,000 Lyme disease cases were reported in the United States in 2023, a 40% rise from 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But according to a 2021 study, there may be as many as 476,000 Americans who receive a Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment annually.
What is Lyme Disease, and How Does It Spread?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by spiral-shaped bacteria called spirochetes. In the U.S., the most common culprits are Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii, according to Dr. Bobbi Pritt, a microbiologist and Lyme disease expert at the Mayo Clinic.
“Most people contract Lyme disease after being bitten by an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick,” Pritt explains. “These ticks become infected after feeding on infected rodents, birds, or other animals.”