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What to know about alpha-gal syndrome, the meat allergy caused by tick bites
Health officials say increased awareness and a spreading lone star tick range are driving more diagnoses, with about 450,000 Americans estimated affected.
- Roughly 450,000 Americans are estimated to have developed Alpha-gal syndrome, a life-threatening meat allergy triggered by tick bites, according to a 2023 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Experts point to increased awareness among health professionals and the expanding habitat of the lone star tick, with reports now reaching the Great Lakes region and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.
- The condition occurs when the immune system triggers an allergic response to a sugar found in mammal meat, causing symptoms like hives and diarrhea, said Scott Commins, a researcher at the University of North Carolina.
- In 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved an injectable drug called Xolair for Alpha-gal syndrome, which helps reduce severe allergic reactions after accidental meat exposure.
- Doctors advise patients to avoid mammal meat, though some can consume dairy; meat from GalSafe pigs, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2020, offers a rare exception.
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