Lyme & other tick borne diseases (TBD) have been in North America since before Anglos arrived here. Native Americans learned to avoid traveling through certain areas during Spring & Fall, as many in their tribe would become ill, some for life & others died.
“Tick bite fever” was written about by The Egyptians and has likely been with us since mammals and birds have existed here.
Ten years ago, Borrelia (Lyme) infection was classified as the 2nd highest infectious disease in 11 North African countries, only behind Malaria, still at #1. In Europe, France reported 1 million cases, while Germany reported 2 million cases.
Over 300 species of Borrelia bacteria have been found across the globe, thus far and, on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica & will likely be found there someday as well.
If you don’t contract TBD’s yourself, you know someone who has, even if they don’t know it. There are numerous “co-infections” which are transmitted along with Lyme; I had 4 and that’s just what they were able to find.
There is no such thing as Hypochondria; people are truly, physically very ill…
