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How a single mosquito bite triggered rare Celine Dion-style syndrome in Aussie dad: 'Life threw me a curveball' Evan Milne was bitten by a mosquito in 2018 It triggered a severe autoimmune disorder READ MORE: Céline Dion shares footage of herself suffering a 'crisis' seizure By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:02 GMT, 7 November 2025 | Updated: 22:02 GMT, 7 November 2025 An Aussie dad's life was turned upside-down after a single mosquito bite triggered an autoimmune disease suffered by Canadian performer Celine Dion. Evan Milne, 57, had taken his younger son Josh, 25, along the Murray River near Mildura for driving practice in July 2018 when he was bitten by a mosquito. Within two days, the Ballarat father-of-two started feeling drowsy, slurring his speech and was unable to move his body properly. He was rushed to hospital after he fell unconscious. 'I denied there was anything wrong. My (then-wife) and eldest son Chris were watching me and could see that I was deteriorating,' he told Daily Mail. 'It got to the point where I really wasn't fine. At that stage, they called an ambulance but I was not conscious by the time the ambulance came.' Mr Milne had worked as an occupational therapist for almost three decades and assumed his symptoms meant he had experienced something like a stroke. But, after the symptoms settled down over the next 12 hours, it triggered an autoimmune disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome. Evan Milne, 57, had taken his younger son Josh (both pictured) along the Murray River for driving practice in July 2018 when he was bitten by a mosquito, triggering an autoimmune disorder called Stiff Person Syndrome Canadian singer Celine Dion (pictured) suffers from a gradual onset variant of the disorder Dion is pictured in her documentary Celine: Through the Eyes of the World in 2010. Viewers saw the singer suffer from spasms and symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome Celine Dion has previously been diagnosed with a strain of the syndrome, which is a degenerative neurological disorder which affects the brain and spinal cord. It causes muscle stiffness, spasms, cognitive changes, and changes to the autonomic nervous system, including cardiac issues. While Dion's variant was a gradual onset, Mr Milne's variant is a rapid, more rare one which was triggered by the mosquito bite. 'It was completely new and novel to me. I hadn't come across it in my years of working as a therapist,' he said. 'I had no idea what it would involve. It continues to affect my movement, but also my speech and my thinking skills.' Mr Milne stopped his work as a therapist in 2020 and now works twice a week at Ballarat Grammar as an Inclusive Education Assistant with the Year Six students. 'I love this work and the supportive environment of the school,' he said. 'I am assisted by NDIS Support Workers for daily tasks and accessing the community for recreation. Life threw me an unexpected curve ball, but I am content. But Mr Milne (pictured on the right with his older son, Chris) suffered from a rapid, rare variant Mr Milne has taken part in Wheelchair Badminton and Para Sailing competitions as well as fundraising walks, with one seeing him ride from Perth to Ballarat over 45 days 2.6million Aussies have indicators of this disease. It barely has any symptoms and one is tiredness 'It's an ongoing journey... I'm no different to those who I had treated as a therapist. So it is me as the recipient of assistance now, rather than the provider.' Mr Milne, who has always been active, said not working full-time allows him to pursue sports and activities that have been beneficial for his mental and physical health. 'I have had the opportunity to compete in both Wheelchair Badminton and Para Sailing at a National and International level,' he said. 'I recently joined a friend, Alan, on his "long-term dream" to ride from Perth to Ballarat via Esperance, the Eyre Peninsula and the Coorong. We rode an average of 92km a day over 45 days, plus nine days for rest or to retreat from bad weather.' Although he can no longer sing due to muscle incoordination of his vocal cords, Mr Milne continues to play the piano and is involved in music at several local churches. A vocal advocate for the importance of physical activity for his ongoing progress, he said it is important for social health also. 'I love the camaraderie of team sport being a bit older now, and have been moving towards things like fundraising walks.' The syndrome causes muscle stiffness, spasms, cognitive changes but Mr Milne regularly goes to the gym to improve his mental and physical health Mr Milne's celebration of health comes as new Institute of Health and Welfare data revealed 78 per cent of Australians are physically inactive. Ken Griffin, the CEO of AUSActive, Australia's peak body for exercise and active health sector, has campaigned for physical activity to be applied as a frontline preventative health solution. He said inactivity fuels up to 20 per cent of disease and up to 30 per cent of increased risk of death costing the economy $15 billion annually in lost productivity. 'The health system prioritises acute care over prevention, yet Australians are sicker than ever, and our hospitals are bursting at the seams,' he said. 'We can't treat our way out of this crisis. The only answer is prevention – and movement is the simplest, most powerful intervention we have.' Celine Dion Share or comment on this article: How a single mosquito bite triggered rare Celine Dion-style syndrome in Aussie dad: 'Life threw me a curveball' Add comment
