Health officials in Virginia say a meat allergy condition known as alpha-gal syndrome that has spread through a certain type of tick is on the rise in the state.
The allergy to red meat, which can be life-threatening, is caused by an illness spread via lone star ticks, a species that’s common in Virginia, Julia Murphy, a state public health veterinarian with the Virginia Department of Health, told a local media outlet.
Lone star ticks are also found in some other parts of the United States and in parts of Mexico and Canada.
She noted that there are still many things that aren’t known about the meat allergy. It’s unclear how long it takes before symptoms develop, she said, and researchers aren’t sure how to combat the syndrome.
“Once you have alpha-gal, your future is somewhat uncertain in regard to the kind of restrictions you might have and what you can eat and what other things you can take in orally, such as medications,” Ms. Murphy said.
She said that if one has been bitten by a tick in recent days and is now having allergic reactions after eating, that person should contact their doctor and inform them of the symptoms.
As with Lyme disease or other tick-borne pathogens, the best way to avoid developing the red meat allergy is to simply avoid being bit by a lone star tick in the first place, Ms. Murphy said. She recommended wearing lighter-colored clothing when outdoors to more easily spot ticks, using tick sprays, and checking for ticks when coming inside.
“The tick’s saliva prompts an immune response from the human body to develop antibodies in an attempt to combat the foreign substance. However, now the immune system has a difficult time determining whether or not the alpha-gal carbohydrate floating around in your blood is from the tick or from the burger you just ate, potentially resulting in an allergic reaction,” the health agency stated.
The warning comes weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report that red meat allergies caused by alpha-gal syndrome are on the rise, describing the illness as an “emerging public health concern.” Specifically, the condition can be fatal and occurs after people eat red meat or products with alpha-gal, a type of sugar found in most mammals, according to the CDC.
The lone star tick, or Amblyomma americanum, can be found across the Southeastern and Eastern United States, as well as in Mexico and parts of Canada. The tick has a single spot on its back, giving it the “lone star” moniker. It’s also known as the northeastern water tick or the turkey tick.
Unlike deer ticks, which are more widespread across the United States, the lone star tick has a smaller chance of transmitting the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. However, it can transmit a range of other diseases to people, including monocytotropic ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness. There have also been reports that it can transmit the potentially deadly heartland virus.
“The number of suspected [alpha-gal syndrome] cases in the United States has increased substantially since 2010, and states with established populations of lone star ticks are most affected, although suspected [alpha-gal syndrome] cases were also identified in areas outside of this tick’s range,” the CDC said in the report.
As for the meat allergy, it can manifest as anaphylaxis—or a life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by a sudden constriction of airways and a drop in blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health. Researchers say that unlike allergic reactions to other foods, which are generally immediate, alpha-gal reactions can occur three to six hours after eating red meat.
Alpha-gal syndrome symptoms can include a rash, hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, stomach pain, and heartburn. Symptoms can be mild to severe, according to health officials.
“It’s important that people who think they may suffer from AGS [alpha-gal syndrome] see their healthcare provider or an allergist, provide a detailed history of symptoms, get a physical examination, and a blood test that looks for specific antibodies (proteins made by your immune system) to alpha-gal,” Dr. Johanna Salzer, a CDC epidemiologist who has researched the illness, said in a statement.
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