First Recorded Fatality from Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Tick-Induced Meat Allergy Proves Deadly
A 47-year-old airline pilot from New Jersey has tragically become the first person known to have died from alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy caused by tick bites. This revelation comes from researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The man’s untimely death, which occurred in September 2024 after consuming a hamburger, was initially classified as a “sudden unexplained death”. However, after months of meticulous investigation, the true cause was revealed.
Alpha-gal syndrome is a condition that is triggered when ticks, particularly the lone star tick, bite humans after feeding on mammals. This syndrome causes delayed allergic reactions to red meat. These reactions typically occur 3-6 hours after the consumption of beef, pork, or other mammalian products. Symptoms can vary widely, ranging from hives and nausea to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
According to the CDC, more than 110,000 suspected cases were identified between 2010 and 2022. It is estimated that as many as 450,000 people could potentially be affected. Climate change is playing a significant role in expanding tick habitats, thereby increasing exposure risks in previously unaffected regions like Washington and Maine.
Source: NBC News