How has the release of Kris' book "Bitten" influenced public perception and government response to the history and treatment of Lyme disease? What ethical considerations arise from the alleged military experiments with biological weapons, including the deliberate spread of ticks carrying diseases? What challenges do patients face when getting diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease, considering its complex symptoms and the potential for misdiagnosis?

The guest in this episode is Kris Newby. She is an award-winning science writer known for her work on Lyme disease, particularly through her book "Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons." She is also the senior producer of the Lyme disease documentary "Under Our Skin," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was a 2010 Oscar semifinalist. Newby has two degrees in engineering, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, and a master’s degree from Stanford University.

Her book "Bitten" has won several international book awards for journalism and narrative nonfiction. In "Bitten," Newby explores the complex origins and management of Lyme disease, including controversial claims about its connections to biological weapons research. The book was inspired by her own personal experience with Lyme disease, which she contracted after being bitten by a tick, leading her on a challenging journey to diagnosis and recovery

We talk about:

00:00 Biological weapons program used bugs as carriers.

06:18 Bioweapon experiments with deadly viruses.

16:05 Deadly ricketzia found in ticks and blood.

26:12 Army funded tick weaponization research leads to spread.

37:20 New findings suggest Lyme disease is multifaceted.

45:43 CIA plots to overthrow Fidel Castro using ticks.

48:20 Questioning the significance of outbreak origins and impacts.

54:38 Struggled with Lyme treatment, needed IV antibiotics sooner.

58:43 Educational content, emphasizes importance of considering consequences.

Bitten book page:

www.krisnewby.com