Justin Timberlake performs at the Lollapalooza Festival Berlin on July 12.Carsten Koall/The Associated Press
Justin Timberlake has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, the former NSYNC star announced on Instagram Thursday.
Timberlake shared the news in a post commemorating his Forget Tomorrow tour, which wrapped in Turkey on Wednesday, adding that the disease “can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically.”
The SexyBack singer, who described himself as a private person, wrote he considered ending the tour when diagnosed, but wrote that he “decided the joy that performing brings me far out weight the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going.”
Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes ticks, also known as deer ticks. It can cause flu-like conditions, neurological problems, joint paint and other symptoms. In the vast majority of cases, Lyme disease is successfully treated with antibiotics.
“I honestly don’t know what my future is onstage, but I’ll always cherish this run! And all of them before! It’s been the stuff of legend for me,” Timberlake wrote.
Representatives for Timberlake did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment.
Exactly how often Lyme disease strikes isn’t clear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites insurance records suggesting 476,000 people are treated for Lyme disease in the U.S. each year.
Black-legged ticks, also called deer ticks, carry Lyme-causing bacteria.
The infection initially causes fatigue, fever and joint pain. Often – but not always – the first sign is a red, round bull’s-eye rash.
Early antibiotic treatment is crucial, but it can be hard for people to tell if they were bitten by ticks, some as small as a pin. Untreated Lyme can cause severe arthritis and damage the heart and nervous system. Some people have lingering symptoms even after treatment.
He ended the post thanking his wife, Jessica Biel, and their two sons, Silas and Phin, saying “nothing is more powerful than your unconditional love. You are my heart and my home. I’m on my way.”
