Bush Was Treated for Lyme Disease

Early intervention after 2006 diagnosis headed off serious symptoms
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 9, 2007 11:24 AM CDT
Bush Was Treated for Lyme Disease
CRAWFORD, TX -- President George W. Bush, left, and Lance Armstrong ride on the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, on Saturday, August 20, 2005.   (KRT Photos)

President Bush has increased his vigilance toward pesky invaders—ticks—since undergoing successful treatment for Lyme disease last August, the White House says. The report did not explain how the president contracted the disease, but a spokesman said it was “not uncommon for him to be riding a mountain bike and receive a tick bite,” the Baltimore Sun reports.

The report, part of the wrap-up of the president's annual physical, did not indicate the nature of the treatment but said it was completely successful. Accounting for the delay in disclosure, the White House said it typically announces minor conditions only in its annual medical report. Left unchecked, Lyme disease can lead to arthritis, paralysis and memory problems. (More Bush administration stories.)

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