08/06/2025
Singer Justin Timberlake recently revealed he was diagnosed with Lyme disease after some backlash from fans about his world tour performances. It’s brought up conversations about the disease and, here in South Florida, if it’s a risk we need to watch out for. Here's what you need to know:
🍍“In places in the Northeast, about half the ticks during the summer can be infected with the disease; whereas, in places where there’s not a lot of Lyme disease, like Florida or Arizona, the majority of adult ticks are not infected," says Dr. Andrew Forster, internal medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care.
🍍Lyme Disease Symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, and skin rash. If left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to the heart, joints and nervous system.
🍍When it comes to protecting yourself from ticks and the disease, Dr. Forster advises people to be fully covered when hiking, and to conduct tick checks, especially in areas like under your arm, the back of your knees, and scalp. if you're experiencing symptoms, do consult a healthcare provider.
