Symptoms of disease that so many celebrities are being diagnosed with after expert gives explanation for why it’s so common

A whopping 476,000 people may be diagnosed and treated for a certain disease in the US alone, which seems to be particularly prevalent among the rich and famous in society.

Celebrities who have come forward after being diagnosed with the bacterial infection include the likes of; Yolanda Hadid, Bella Hadid, Justin Bieber, Ben Stiller, Amy Schumer, Shania Twain, Alec Baldwin, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Osbourne and Riley Keough… with the latest Hollywood A-lister to be diagnosed being Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian.

What are the symptoms?

One of the main early symptom of the disease, according to the NHS, is a ‘circular or oval shape rash’ around a tick bite.

It can appear up to three months after being bitten by an infected tick, but usually appears within one to four weeks and can last for ‘several weeks’,

The NHS explains: “The rash can have a darker or lighter area in the centre and might gradually spread. It’s not usually hot or itchy.”

It may also be flat or ‘slightly raised’ and look pink, red, or purple when it appears on white skin.

“It can be harder to see the rash on brown and black skin and it may look like a bruise,” the official site adds.

One of the early symptoms of the bacterial infection is a ‘circular or oval shape rash’. (NHS)

The infection, know as Lyme disease, also sees some people get flu-like symptoms a several days or weeks after they were bitten by an infected tick, such as:

• A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Tiredness and loss of energy

What is Lyme disease?

According to the NHS, 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 with one of the main early symptoms being a ‘circular or oval shape rash’ forming around a tick bite.

Model Bella Hadid has Lyme disease. (Gotham / Contributor / Getty Images)

Why do so many celebrities get diagnosed with Lyme disease?

Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia, has since explained what factors could make those in the spotlight more vulnerable to catching the infection known as Lyme disease.

Professor Hunter told the MailOnline that A-listers’ increased leisure time and greater access to wilder outdoor areas – where ticks reside – than normal people, could simply make it a numbers game.

“If there is a rich and famous or class bias in this, it’s probably because they spend more time walking around in wooded parkland, more money to go out to those areas, or have big homes with these sorts of places,” he added.

Also, a lot of these celebs likely live across the pond in the US where Lyme disease is known for being quite prevalent in.

The expert continued: “As you’re walking along the ticks jump on your legs and crawl their way up… have a blood feast and give you Lyme disease.” What a lovely image!

He went on: “If you go walking in these sorts of places the best thing to do is check, when you get home, that you don’t have any ticks on you and if you have remove them safely.”

Tick bites may not always be painful. (Catherine McQueen / Getty Images)

How to spot and remove ticks

Now, it’s important to note that not all ticks in England carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

With that said, however, it’s still important to be aware of ticks and to safely remove them as soon as possible, just in case.

“Ticks that may cause Lyme disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk places include grassy and wooded areas in southern and northern England and the Scottish Highlands,” the NHS explains.

Tick bites aren’t always painful so you may not notice a tick unless you see it on your skin.

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, be sure to remove it carefully. (rbkomar / Getty Images)

If you do find you’ve been targeted by a tick, you can safely remove it by:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops.
2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
3. Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it.
4. Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.

The NHS assures: “The chance of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell.”

The site adds that the majority of people ‘get better after antibiotic treatment’. And while this ‘can take months for some’, ‘the symptoms should improve over time’.

Find out more about Lyme disease here.