Key Point Summary – Joe Rogan Lyme Disease Claim

• Joe Rogan claims Lyme disease was man-made and leaked from Plum Island
• RFK Jr. reportedly made similar allegations in 2024 and on his podcast
• Experts call the theory debunked, citing 19th-century evidence of the bacteria
• Rogan’s comments are going viral again amid a seasonal surge in tick bites
• Plum Island denies conducting any Lyme disease research
• Ticks spread Lyme through infected deer or mice in wooded areas
• The disease can cause severe symptoms if left untreated

Rogan Revives Bioweapon Theory on Podcast

Joe Rogan has reignited a long-standing conspiracy theory, claiming on his popular podcast that Lyme disease may have originated from a government weapons lab. The bold assertion comes as cases of the tick-borne illness spike across the U.S. this summer.

During a March episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the podcaster told guest Michael Kosta that he believes the disease leaked from Plum Island, a government facility off Long Island. Rogan said, “There’s a lot of real evidence that Lyme disease was weaponized… It came out of a lab called Plum Island, which was close to Lyme, Connecticut.”

The episode resurfaced online this week, going viral after it was reposted to X, where it’s already racked up over a million views.

RFK Jr. and the Bioweapons Connection

Rogan isn’t alone in pushing the theory. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also discussed it on his podcast. In a 2024 episode, he alleged that government scientists were experimenting with infected ticks on Plum Island and possibly other labs in the Northeast.

“The ticks are an epidemic because of what happened at Plum Island,” RFK Jr. said in the broadcast. However, during his Senate confirmation hearing, he appeared to walk back the theory, saying he never believed it—but added the public should follow the evidence wherever it leads.

Rogan has pointed to several books and interviews with alleged insiders to support his claims. Among them is Bitten by Kris Newby, which features a recorded interview with Willy Burgdorfer—the scientist who discovered the Lyme bacterium—admitting he had worked on using fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks as bioweapons.

What Is Plum Island?

Plum Island, an 840-acre facility in New York, is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Since the 1950s, it has focused on animal disease research, not human pathogens.

In response to Rogan’s claims, DHS issued a flat denial: “The facility does not and has not performed research on Lyme disease.”

Still, Rogan remains skeptical. In earlier podcasts, he suggested that the geographic concentration of Lyme cases near the island raises serious questions. “It doesn’t make sense that it would just randomly start there,” he said in 2019.

Experts Dismiss Weaponization Claims

Despite the growing buzz, scientists and health organizations continue to push back hard. They argue that Borrelia burgdorferi—the bacterium that causes Lyme disease—existed in North America long before any Cold War-era research labs.

Yale researchers and the American Lyme Disease Foundation have both uncovered preserved animal remains infected with the bacteria dating as far back as 1870.

“There is no credible evidence that Lyme disease is man-made,” said one infectious disease specialist. “Everything we know points to a natural evolution of the pathogen in wild animals.”

Lyme Disease Is Spreading Fast

Regardless of origin, Lyme disease is spreading at an alarming rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) receives 30,000 to 40,000 confirmed reports a year—but estimates that nearly 476,000 Americans may actually contract the disease annually.

Ticks become especially active in June and July. During these months, people are more likely to encounter the tiny nymph-stage ticks in grassy fields, forests, or backyards.

Once attached, the ticks need 36 to 48 hours to transmit the bacteria to humans. Infection often starts with a telltale red, bull’s-eye rash and flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, and fatigue.

Dangerous If Left Untreated

When detected early, Lyme disease is easily treatable with antibiotics. But if left untreated, it can spiral into far more serious health problems.

Patients may suffer from joint swelling, facial paralysis, memory loss, heart palpitations, and even brain inflammation. In rare cases, it can be fatal.

There’s currently no vaccine available for humans, although pharmaceutical companies have begun early trials to develop one.

Social Media Reaction and Public Debate

Rogan’s controversial remarks are fueling intense debate online. While some users are demanding more transparency about Plum Island and past U.S. bioweapons programs, others are accusing him of spreading dangerous misinformation.

“Joe is playing with fire here,” one public health expert warned. “Undermining trust in science during tick season could delay people from getting critical treatment.”

Still, some listeners say the government has lost credibility and should allow independent investigations into historical programs involving tick research.

Rogan has responded to critics by saying he’s just asking questions—and that official denials are exactly what you’d expect if something had gone wrong.

Ticking Time Bomb or Natural Threat?

For now, the science community remains firm: there’s no proof Lyme disease came from a lab. But for Rogan and others who remain suspicious, the proximity of Plum Island to Lyme, Connecticut will always be more than coincidence.

As ticks continue to spread and summer cases climb, one thing is certain—Rogan’s theory won’t be fading from public conversation anytime soon.