Lyme disease: Why many celebrities say they have it

Many celebrities describe having Lyme disease or 'chronic Lyme', a term not recognized by mainstream medicine; experts say private testing and unproven treatments can be unregulated and carry risks.

Many public figures have said they have Lyme disease or what they describe as 'chronic Lyme.' That term is not recognized by mainstream medicine and is used by some alternative practitioners. Lyme is an infection caused by Borrelia bacteria transmitted by blacklegged ticks, and reported cases in Canada rose to 5,809 in 2024. Experts told CBC News that private testing and unproven treatments are largely unregulated and can carry risks. Key points: - Some celebrities describe long-term symptoms as "chronic Lyme", a controversial label not accepted by most medical experts. - Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by ticks; most people improve with early antibiotic treatment. - Canada uses a two-step, Health Canada–approved antibody testing process; these tests have limitations and do not detect the bacteria directly. - A subset of patients report ongoing symptoms after treatment, called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), for which causes and treatments are not well understood. - The article reports that private tests and unproven therapies can be costly and risky, including at least one case in which a patient became seriously ill after seeking treatment abroad. Summary: The visibility of celebrity reports has increased public attention but also blurred distinctions between confirmed Lyme disease, PTLDS and the unrecognized concept of "chronic Lyme." Undetermined at this time.