Justin Timberlake recently shared his Lyme disease diagnosis on social media, calling the experience “relentlessly debilitating.”
“If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” he wrote.
Timberlake shed light on a disease that impacts thousands of Americans every year. Over 89,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by state health departments in 2023 – the most recent year of data available. According to the CDC, other estimates found that the number of those diagnosed and treated for the disease could be as much as 476,000 annually.
Globally, an estimated 14% of the world’s population has been diagnosed with the disease, according to Project Lyme, an advocacy organization working to eradicate the epidemic of tick-borne diseases.
The CDC said Lyme is the most common disease transmitted through tick bites. Here’s what to know about the tick-borne illness:
Where are ticks found? Maps show where the disease-carrying parasites live
How to spot a Lyme disease-carrying tick
The blacklegged tick and Western blacklegged tick can spread Lyme disease, which can lead to a wide range of health problems.
In high-risk areas, an estimated 10% to 50% of blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
These high-risk areas include:
Eastern states, primarily New England and the mid-Atlantic.
The Great Lakes Region and northern Midwestern states, especially Wisconsin and Minnesota
The West Coast, particularly parts of northern California and, less commonly, Oregon and Washington
Hallmark symptoms of Lyme disease in the acute stage include a “bullseye” rash (erythema migrans), fever, chills, fatigue and muscle and joint aches.
Without treatment, Lyme disease can progress to include neurological, heart and joint problems.
Do you know the signs of a tick bite? What to look for
How many people have Lyme disease?
With climate change raising temperatures, tick populations have expanded into new regions and put more people in contact with ticks and their illness-causing bacteria.
Annual cases are expected to continue to climb. Between 2022 and 2023, Lyme disease cases increased 43%.
What is Lyme disease? Justin Timberlake shares ‘debilitating’ diagnosis
How to stay safe from tick bites
The CDC and other public health authorities recommend the following to keep you and your family safe from ticks:
When spending significant time outdoors, treat clothing and gear with products that have .5% permethrin or buy such items already pre-treated with permethrin.
Consider long pants and high socks instead of shorts.
Avoid high grass and leaf litter. On hikes, try to walk in the center of trails.
Inspect clothing and gear periodically for the presence of ticks.
To learn how to properly remove a tick if it’s attached to skin, click here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many people contract Lyme disease each year? See charts
