Justin Bieber has confirmed that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease.
"While a lot of people kept saying justin Bieber looks like s**t, 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 shared in an Instagram post.
The Canadian singer's post was in response to a TMZ report earlier Wednesday that said “sources who have seen” Justin Bieber: Seasons, which debuts Jan. 27 on YouTube, revealed the Canadian singer talks about having the disease in the docu-series.
Bieber confirmed: "You can learn all that I've been battling and OVERCOMING!! 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."
According to a Government of Canada website, early signs of Lyme disease – caused by a backlegged tick bite – include rash, fever, headache, fatigue and muscle aches.
More serious symptoms, such as facial paralysis, heart disorders and severe joint pain can follow.
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Coincidentally, Ottawa Public Health used a photo of Bieber with his socks tucked into his pants to stress the importance of protecting yourself from tick bites. The 2018 tweet included the hashtag "#WeBeliebInHealth."
Protect yourself from #ticks & Lyme disease
— Ottawa Public Health (@ottawahealth) October 2, 2018
•Apply a Health Canada approved insect repellent w/ DEET/icaridin
•Wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, shoes and socks to cover exposed skin
•Be like @justinbieber….tuck your pants into your socks #WeBeliebInHealth pic.twitter.com/0rxjUiWZsm
Bieber’s fellow Canadian singers Avril Lavigne and Shania Twain have previously gone public with their battles with Lyme disease.
In 2015, Lavigne revealed the infection left her bed-ridden for five months. She has been sharing information about Lyme disease via her eponymous foundation.
Twain, in 2017, blamed Lyme disease contracted from a tick bite in 2003 for leaving her unable to sing. “It's a debilitating disease and extremely dangerous,” she told the Canadian Press. “You can't play around with it, so you've got to check yourself for ticks.”
In 2015, Yolanda Foster – then-wife of Canadian music producer and composer David Foster – opened up about her battle with Lyme disease in a blog post.
This post has been updated since it was first published.