Mysterious meat allergy passed by ticks thought to impact thousands of people

29 July 2023 , 07:30

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Ticks carry a component in their spit that can make humans allergic to red meat, the CDC confirms (Image: AP)

Since 2010, nearly half a million Americans have been diagnosed with a red meat allergy.

For a decade, doctors and researchers didn't know what it was or how to treat it.

Now, a new report from the CDC confirms that hundreds of thousands of individuals who have experienced horrifying symptoms like skin rashes, severe stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, among other signs - are likely suffering from a disease called 'alpha-gal syndrome.'

This disease is caused by tick bites. A sugar known as 'alpha-gal' is one of the key components of meat from mammals — and in tick spit. When the sugar enters the body through the skin, it triggers an immune response and can lead to a severe allergic reaction.

What tick species can make you allergic to red meat?

Ticks carry more than just Lyme disease - now you have to worry about a sudden red meat allergy (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

They tied it to the lone star tick, which despite its Texas-themed name, is most common in the eastern and southern U.S. (About 4% of all U.S. cases have been in the eastern end of New York’s Long Island.) Experts say cases may be up for a variety of reasons, including lone star ticks’ expanding range, more people coming into contact with the ticks or more doctors learning about it and ordering tests for it.

Subway diner taken to hospital seven minutes after biting into sandwich

How common is an alpha-gal syndrome diagnosis?

One of the studies released Thursday examined 2017-2022 test results from the main U.S. commercial lab looking for alpha-gal antibodies. They noted the number of people testing positive rose from about 13,000 in 2017 to 19,000 in 2022. A second study from the CDC surveyed 1,500 U.S. primary care doctors and health professionals last year.

If you're suddenly experiencing hives, itchiness, swelling, or digestional issues after a tick bite, you may want to see your doctor about it (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The survey found nearly half had never heard of alpha-gal syndrome, and only 5 per cent said they felt very confident they could diagnose it. Researchers used that information to estimate the number of people with the allergy — 450,000. "Patients are out there, but the primary care folks, the health care providers, just don't seem to know about it," said Dr Scott Commins, an allergy immunology specialist at the University of North Carolina Department of Medicine in Chapel Hill, and a co-author of both reports.

What are the symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome or red meat allergy?

People with the syndrome can experience symptoms including: "hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe stomach pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue or eyelids." Unlike some other food allergies, which occur soon after eating, these reactions hit hours later.

“I never connected it with any food because it was hours after eating,” said one patient, Bernadine Heller-Greenman. Some patients have only stomach symptoms, and the American Gastroenterological Association says people with unexplained diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain should be tested for the syndrome.

Doctors counsel people with the allergy to change their diet, carry epinephrine and avoid tick bites.

The allergy can fade away in some people — Commins has seen that happen in about 15% to 20% of his patients. But the key is avoiding being re-bitten.

Yelena Mandenberg