President Bush Had Lyme Disease - Diagnosis of Potentially Neuropsychiatric Disease Withheld From Public For A Year

The White House disclosed Wednesday that President Bush was treated for Lyme disease last summer.

The revelation is in an annual report on Bush's health that declares him "fit for duty." It shows that he was treated last August for symptoms "consistent with early, localized Lyme disease" without any reoccurrence.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel told CNN that it is "not uncommon" for Bush to get tick bites during his frequent bike rides. Lyme disease can be transmitted through the bite of a tick that carries the disease.

He said the president noticed he had a small rash in a "localized area" of his body last summer, and his doctors treated it.

"It's been resolved," Stanzel said. "He's had no reoccurrence and no other symptoms."

Stanzel said the disclosure was not made sooner because the rash wasn't serious enough to be revealed. "This was a rash and did not impact his duties, so it's being reported now," he said.

This headline has been changed to reflect that Mr. Bush once had Lyme disease but has received treatment for it. Presumably Mr. Bush no longer suffers from the condition.

Bush Treated for Lyme Disease Last Year

Associated Press

Wed Aug 8

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