Just one bite from the lone star tick, named after the white spot on his back, can cause a lifelong allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). It is derived from the alpha-gal sugars consumed by the tick when it feeds on mammals such as mice, rabbits or deer. Then, if the tick moves to a person, it can inject the sugars through its saliva. People do not have alpha-gal in their body, so the immune system will fight back and develop antibodies. People with the syndrome report numerous allergic reactions to meat, from anaphylaxis to stomach problems, urticaria and headaches. It is often difficult to diagnose, as reactions can occur hours after ingesting meat. An allergy lasts a lifetime and can get worse over time. The first cases of the link between the tick and the syndrome were investigated in 2009 after they appeared in the southeastern United States. But the bug has now moved north, as far as Washington DC, thanks to the warming climate. Rising temperatures mean the bug can survive the winter and survive in colder climates. Between 2010 and 2018, more than 34,000 AGS cases were reported. Some more serious cases have reported aversion to other animal products, including dairy.
The smell of cooking meat can cause a reaction
Amy Shea, a woman in Georgia, can only react to the smell of cooking meat, according to CBS News. He should avoid all animal products and control the packaging of soap and cosmetics for ingredients of animal origin. Keith Tremel, from Maryland, has to wear gloves to handle red meat to avoid a rash after being bitten five years ago. “Before I was diagnosed, I liked bacon cheeseburgers. “My wife and two children both like bacon, and my son enjoys steak, so cooking it can be a bit of a torture for them,” he told the Washington Post. U.S. health officials have warned people to control themselves carefully when crossing grassy, bushy and wooded areas during the spring and summer months, when ticks are particularly aggressive.
