Country superstar Shania Twain takes to the stage to headline BST Hyde Park today (July 7). It is just the latest stop on a tour of the UK, which included playing the legends slot at Glastonbury, that has seen her perform for hundreds of thousands of adoring fans.
It is something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago as the star struggled with the symptoms of Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick. At one point the 58-year-old was told she might never sing again something she described as “depressing and devastating” during an appearance on Lorraine last year.
“Even speaking has been difficult with the Lyme disease. Now I’m just feeling so grateful that I can sing and express myself,” she intimated. She also opened up about a procedure she underwent to restore her voice.
“You have to be awake while they do it. I was more afraid of never singing again than getting through the operation. The reason you have to be awake for the operation is that you have to sing during it so they know exactly what to do,” she said.
The Still The One singer contracted the disease in 2003 while she was horseback riding but last year she told InStyle magazine that for “six or seven years” doctors couldn’t figure out why her voice was fading and changing. Eventually, they discovered it was “nerve damage as a result of Lyme”.
But what is Lyme disease and could you catch it in the UK?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.
It is possible to catch it in the UK as ticks that can cause the disease are found everywhere, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern and northern England and the Scottish Highlands.
According to NHS advice, not all ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease but it’s still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case.
They point out that not all tick bites are painful, therefore you may not notice until you see it on your skin so they recommend regularly checking your clothes and skin, and also children and pets after being outdoors.
Some people will develop a circular or oval shape rash around the bite area which can be an early symptom of Lyme disease.
Although this rash can take up to three months to appear after being bitten by an infected tick, it usually shows up within one to four weeks and it can last for several weeks.
Some people also suffer flu-like symptoms a few days or weeks after being bitten by an infected tick, such as a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery, a headache, muscle and joint pain, tiredness and loss of energy.
It is recommended you see a GP if you’ve been bitten by a tick or visited an area in the past three months where infected ticks could be and you have the rash, the flu-like symptoms or both.