Unseen Tick Threat: Rising Cases of Meat Allergy Post-Bite
New studies highlight a troubling risk not previously fully understood—a meat allergy derived from tick bites, now found to be associated with a broader range of tick species than previously recognized. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alongside local health officials, points to more than just the lone star tick as a culprit behind alpha-gal syndrome in the U.S. source.
Alpha-gal syndrome, a rare allergic reaction to the alpha-gal sugar found in red meat, occurs following certain tick bites. Traditionally linked to the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), new reports suggest that the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) and the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis)—both more broadly distributed—may also spur this condition. This revelation possibly expands the risk zone and the number of people vulnerable to this allergy, unexpectedly affecting their dietary choices and lifestyle in regions previously thought safe.