Apparently, at one point, a bunch of Hollywood's biggest stars have come forward to admit to having a certain illness.
Currently, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent estimates suggest that approximately 476,000 people may be diagnosed with and treated for the disease each year in the United States alone.
The latest star to announce a bacterial infection diagnosis is none other than Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, leaving many to wonder: why? Earth Why are so many celebrities diagnosed with the same disease?
Why are so many celebrities diagnosed with the same disease? (NHS)
Ohanian joins a host of other big name celebrities who have contracted the disease, including Yolanda Hadid, Bella Hadid, Justin Bieber, Ben Stiller, Amy Schumer, Shania Twain, Alec Baldwin, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Osbourne and Riley Keough.
Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, explains what makes high-profile people more susceptible to an infection known as Lyme disease.
What is Lyme disease?
According to the NHS, Lyme disease is “a bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans by infected ticks”.
Treatment is usually easier if diagnosed early, as one of the main early symptoms is the development of a “round or oval rash” around the tick bite.
Some people develop flu-like symptoms days or weeks after being bitten by an infected tick, including:
- High fever or feeling hot and shivering
- headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue and loss of energy
Bella Hadid is one of many stars to have been diagnosed with Lyme disease. (Instagram/@bellahadid)
Why are so many celebrities diagnosed with Lyme disease?
Prof Hunter told Mail Online that it could simply be a matter of numbers because celebrities have more leisure time than the general public and are more likely to visit wild outdoor areas where ticks live.
“If this is biased towards the rich, famous or class, it's probably because they spend more time walking in wooded parks, or have more money to travel to those areas, or have bigger houses in those places,” he added.
It's also likely that many of these celebrities live across the ocean in the United States, where Lyme disease is known to be quite prevalent.
The expert continued: “As you walk, ticks jump onto your legs and crawl up. They suck your blood and cause Lyme disease.”
What a lovely image!
He added: “If you do go for a walk in these areas, your best bet when you get home is to check yourself for ticks and to make sure they are safely removed.”
Justin Bieber was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2020. (Instagram/@justinbieber)
How to spot and remove ticks
An important point to note here is that not all ticks in England carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
But with that being said, it's still important to be aware of ticks and to remove them safely as quickly as possible, just in case.
“Ticks that can carry Lyme disease are found throughout the UK, but areas at higher risk include grassland and woodland in the south and north of England and the Scottish Highlands,” the NHS explains.
(NHS)
Tick bites are not necessarily painful, so you may not even notice the tick unless it is attached to your skin.
If you notice that you have been bitten by a tick, you can safely remove it by following these steps:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool, which can be purchased at any pharmacy, vet, or pet store.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Gently pull upwards, being careful not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of the tick once it is removed.
- Wash the sting area with disinfectant or soap and water.
The NHS reassures: “Your chances of getting sick are low and unless you notice a rash or feel unwell there is nothing else you need to do.”
The site adds that the majority of people “recover after antibiotic treatment,” and although this “can take several months for some people,” “symptoms should improve over time.”
Learn more about Lyme disease here.
