In recent years, countless A-list stars have opened up about being diagnosed with this particular disease.
In fact, recent estimates suggest that approximately 476,000 people may be diagnosed with and treated for the disease each year in the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is no surprise, then, that a number of top athletes have fallen victim to the disease, including Alexis Ohanian, husband of Serena Williams, who opened up about his own medical diagnosis this week.
The disease is transmitted by tick bites. (rbkomar/Getty)
The illness we're talking about is Lyme disease, which is a “bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks.”
Asked why global stars in particular seem to be targeted, Prof Hunter told MailOnline earlier this week that it could simply be that celebrities have more leisure time and greater access to wild outdoor areas where ticks live, increasing the chances of infection.
With these possibilities in mind, let's take a look at some stars who have received life-changing diagnoses in recent years.
Justin Bieber
Fans were shocked to learn that the “Baby” singer had been diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2020 and would be taking a break from the music industry.
In the months leading up to the announcement, fans had noticed a slight change in the appearance of Bieber's face due to swelling, sparking heavy speculation about his health.
“Lots of people kept saying Justin Bieber was on meth, looked awful, etc. but what they didn't realize was that I was recently diagnosed with Lyme Disease, and not only that, I have a severe case of chronic mononucleosis that is affecting my skin, brain function, energy and overall health,” he later wrote in an Instagram post.
Justin was diagnosed in 2020. (BG046/Bauer Griffin/GC Images)
“The last few years have been tough, [I’m] With the right treatment to help treat this previously incurable disease, you will recover better than ever before.”
Bella Hadid
International supermodel Bella Hadid, along with her mom, Yolanda, tragically contracted Lyme disease in 2012 when she was just 16 years old.
Over the next few years, Elle magazine reported that Bella first experienced the classic symptoms of difficulty walking and joint pain, then suffered severe nausea.
And apparently, 12 years later, she still suffers from some of the symptoms of the disease, including fatigue and swelling.
In fact, in TikToks posted earlier this year, the brunette beauty often claimed she hated “looking in the mirror and taking pictures.”
Shania Twain
The country music guru contracted the disease 21 years ago after being bitten by a tick while horseback riding.
Shania was bitten by a tick while horseback riding. (Samir Hussain/WireImage)
A 2023 Netflix documentary looks back on the diagnosis Not just a girlThe “Man I Feel Like a Woman” singer confessed, “Before I was diagnosed, I would get really dizzy on stage, so the symptoms were quite scary.”
“I was terrified I would lose my balance and fall off the stage…. Loss of consciousness for just a few milliseconds occurred regularly, every minute or even every 30 seconds.”
The disease also affected her voice, leaving the chart-topper at one point fearing she would never sing again.
Avril Lavigne
The “Sk8er Boi” hit singer claims that since being diagnosed with the disease after her 30th birthday in 2014, she suffered from extremely severe symptoms and was bedridden for around two years thereafter.
Four years later, in an interview with Billboard magazine, she claimed she still battles lingering symptoms on a daily basis.
“I'm hurting, I'm tired and I can't get out of bed. What's happening?” she asked.
Avril was left bedridden as a result of her diagnosis. (Harry Durant/Getty Images)
He revealed that it actually took several months for doctors to officially diagnose him, as some of the symptoms were reminiscent of other, more common illnesses, and it wasn't until 2018 that he felt comfortable performing again.
“Having overcome the biggest battle of my life, I am stronger than ever and look forward to sharing my renewed voice and energy for life with my fans through this new music,” she wrote on her website that year.
Alec Baldwin
More than two decades ago, the hugely popular actor announced the sad news that he had been bitten by a tick and diagnosed with a dreaded disease, which he claimed left him bedridden in 2021.
Remembering the incident that changed his life forever, Beetlejuice “One summer night in August, I was standing on the porch of a friend's house. It was a cool night. It wasn't a muggy night. I literally felt a wave go over my back and shoulders and wrap around me like a chill,” the actor said in a podcast interview.
Alec Baldwin was diagnosed more than 20 years ago. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Comedy Central)
“And then I was attacked. It was as if someone snapped their fingers and cast a spell on me.”
Although he says the cold sweats he endured over the ensuing years have subsided somewhat, the actor still struggles with “inexplicable” joint pain every day.
Kelly Osbourne
The British socialite has been battling an undiagnosed illness for years, often relying on painkillers to get through it.
When her symptoms worsened and she began having seizures in 2013, doctors diagnosed her with “stage 3 neurological Lyme disease.”
According to his 2017 memoir: It's not a secret, Kelly found the news bittersweet.
“I was relieved to finally understand what was going on,” she confessed, “but I was also so scared.”
The star will then undergo stem cell treatment which he hopes will “boost his immune system and allow his body to fight and heal itself against disease.”
Kelly waited several years to receive a diagnosis. (Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Ben Stiller
of Night at the Museum The actor first spoke about the illness in 2011, claiming he had contracted it a few years earlier while vacationing on Nantucket Island.
“My knee became inflamed and the doctors didn't know what it was, but it turned out to be Lyme disease,” he said. The Hollywood Reporter at that time.
“I don't have any symptoms now, but Lyme disease never leaves my body. It's really hard.”
Who else?
As is often said, countless stars have opened up in recent years about their struggles with frightening health issues.
The Real Housewives of New York City Star Ramona Singer claimed in 2020 that she was “very lucky and blessed” to have detected the disease early and begun treatment straight away.
Indie film actress Parker Posey was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2009 and suffered from symptoms so severe they forced her to drop out of some impressive film roles, but she now claims that holistic intervention has helped her recover.
Amy Schumer is among countless stars who have been diagnosed. (Bruce Grikas/Getty Images)
US singer Fletcher was also diagnosed in 2023, revealing at the time that the disease was affecting her vocal cords, forcing her to postpone her tour of Europe and Australia.
Comedian Amy Schumer announced the news in 2020 with a light-hearted Instagram post accompanied by a childhood photo, captioned, “Did anyone get Lyme disease this summer? I did and I'm on doxycycline and have probably had it for years. Any advice? Can I have a glass of wine or two? I know I should stay out of the sun.”
Daisy Jones and the Six Frontwoman Riley Keough publicly announced that she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease that same year, telling Vanity Fair that while she was capable of conceiving children, she had given birth to her daughter via a surrogate because of Lyme disease.
'80s singer Debbie Gibson, who experienced food sensitivities and was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2013, told People magazine in 2021 that she was “prepared for the unexpected when it comes to my health, but I know I'll get through it.”
And the most recent celebrity to go public with her diagnosis is tech executive Alexis Ohanian, who broke the news on Twitter in a statement: “After a full range of health scans, tests, etc., I've found out I have Lyme Disease. I'm shocked.”
