Dhru Purohit Show
Was Lyme Disease a Lab Leak? The Sinister History of One of the Fastest-Growing Infectious Diseases
Mar 24, 2025
Kris Newby, an award-winning science writer and senior producer of the Lyme disease documentary 'Under Our Skin,' delves into the unsettling origins of Lyme disease, suggesting a possible link to Cold War bioweapons programs. She discusses the use of ticks as weaponized vectors and the ethical implications of such research. Kris shares her personal journey with Lyme disease, highlighting misdiagnosis and the struggles of chronic patients, while advocating for greater awareness, better treatment options, and the urgent need for transparency in public health.
59:22
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Quick takeaways
- Kris Newby investigates the controversial theory that Lyme disease may have originated from military bioweapons programs instead of natural evolution.
- The mismanagement of Lyme disease treatment and vaccine research has significantly contributed to the rise in chronic Lyme disease cases and ongoing patient struggles.
Deep dives
Origins of Lyme Disease as a Bioweapon
The theory presented posits that Lyme disease, a rapidly spreading infection in North America, originated from a Cold War biological weapons program rather than evolving naturally. The first symptoms of this disease were reported in the late 1960s near Lyme, Connecticut, characterized by neurological issues and severe joint pain. It is suggested that multiple organisms, potentially including Borrelia burgdorferi and other weaponized germs, escaped from a military lab during experiments. The military had reportedly developed biological agents that could incapacitate populations without immediately revealing the source of the illness.
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