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.

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ANECDOTE

Weaponized Ticks Evidence

Kris Newby's research involves eyewitness reports and government documents about weaponized ticks.
Willie Burgdorfer, Lyme disease discoverer, admitted to weaponizing ticks during the Cold War.

INSIGHT

Chronic Lyme Disease

Lyme disease can become chronic, affecting joints and the brain, where the immune system has limited access.
Early Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics, but the focus shifted to vaccines for profit.

INSIGHT

Tick Weaponization Programs

During the Cold War, the U.S. had tick weaponization programs.
Non-native ticks with infections escaped labs, causing outbreaks with lasting public health impacts.

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This episode is brought to you by Pique Life, Momentous, and Lumebox.

When we think about disease and chronic illness, we don’t usually consider the possibility of a lab leak or a government experiment gone wrong. Today’s guest sheds light on her investigation into Lyme disease, its disturbing origins, and how it’s impacted patient treatment.

Today on The Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with writer and producer Kris Newby to discuss her theory on the origins of Lyme disease. She explores the possible role of weaponized ticks, the mismanagement of Lyme disease treatment, and the implications of military secrecy surrounding biological experiments. Kris also emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of Lyme disease’s complexity and its broader impact on public health. She highlights the importance of awareness, research, and advocacy for better treatment options while sharing her personal journey with Lyme disease and how it affected her family.

Kris Newby is an award-winning science writer and the senior producer of the Lyme disease documentary UNDER OUR SKIN, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was a 2010 Oscar semifinalist. Her book, BITTEN, won three international book awards for journalism and narrative nonfiction. Previously, she worked as a science and technology writer for Stanford Medical School, Apple, and other Silicon Valley companies. She is currently working on her second book.

In this episode, Dhru and Kris dive into:

The sinister origins of Lyme disease (00:10)
What’s known so far and piecing together the facts (2:30)
The discovery of Lyme, its impact on public health, and the role of Big Pharma (10:30)
Theories of lab leaks and tick weaponization (17:00)
Military secrecy and cover-up tactics (23:00)
A congressman’s journey to investigate the origin of Lyme (28:00)
Optimism for future research and treatment (30:00)
Navigating tick-borne illness (32:30)
Historical context of biological warfare (35:00)
Connections between modern disease and bioengineering (36:20)
The role of ethics and accountability (39:20)
Kris’s personal journey with Lyme disease (41:20)

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For more on Kris, follow her on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, and her Website.

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