Singer Justin Bieber, 25, announced in an Instagram post Thursday that he is battling Lyme disease, a bacteria-borne disease transmitted by ticks.
“While a lot of people kept saying justin Bieber looks like shit, on meth etc. they failed to realize I’ve been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my, skin, brain function, energy, and overall health,” he wrote.
Bieber teased an upcoming documentary series that will give fans a closer look into his life and diagnosis.
His reported symptoms, decreased brain function, fatigue, and skin rashes, are common in the 300,000 cases of Lyme disease diagnosed annually. The disease can be treated effectively if it is detected early on, but early diagnosis is difficult as many physicians don’t have experience identifying and treating Lyme disease.
Congress passed a bill in December that aims to improve early detection and treatment measures for Lyme disease, the Kay Hagan Tick Act. The bill’s lead author is congressman Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey who worked for nearly 30 years to improve prevention and treatment efforts for Lyme disease. The measure will allocate $ 150 million in federal funding for regional healthcare research centers and for education and prevention initiatives at the local level.
[ Also read: Americans are contracting a red meat allergy from ticks]
Originally titled the TICK Act when it was introduced in June 2019, the bill was renamed by Smith and Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Tina Smith of Minnesota in honor of the former North Carolina senator Kay Hagan, who died in October of Powassan virus — another disease transmitted by ticks.
Bieber said that he is undergoing treatment for the disease. Doctors do not recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease every time, often prescribing a limited course of antibiotics as if it were like any other bacterial infection. When left untreated, Lyme symptoms can worsen and even lead to debilitating joint and nerve pain.
Smith’s own daughter battled Lyme for years, exhibiting the same symptoms as Bieber, but she received care from a Lyme disease literate doctor.
“It’s been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever NO CAP,” Bieber wrote.