US Health Agency Warns: Tick Bites Can Cause Red Meat Allergy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reports that over 100,000 people in the US have developed an allergy to red meat after being bitten by ticks since 2010. Meanwhile, many individuals are unaware that they have this condition. Another report from this health agency estimates that approximately 450,000 Americans are affected by this unusual allergy. Dr. Scott Commins, a researcher at the University of North Carolina and author of both articles published by the CDC, states that this allergy has become the tenth most common food allergy in the US. US health officials say that the cause of this allergy is not a microbe, but rather an alpha-gal sugar found in mammal meat and tick saliva. When the sugar enters the body through the skin, it triggers an immune response, resulting in severe allergy. Scientists have observed similar reactions in patients who consumed cancer medication made from mouse cells containing alpha-gal sugar. However, in 2011, researchers first reported that the allergy could also be triggered by tick bites. One of the studies recently published identified alpha-gal antibodies from a major commercial laboratory in the US from 2017 to 2022. Researchers say the number of individuals with positive test results increased from about 13,000 in 2017 to 19,000 in 2022. Experts suggest that the rise in cases may be due to various reasons, including the expansion of tick ranges, increased human contact with ticks, or greater awareness among doctors leading to more testing. The second study is actually a survey conducted last year among 1,500 primary care physicians and health specialists in the US. The survey revealed that nearly half of these specialists had never heard of alpha-gal syndrome, and only 5% said they could diagnose it. Individuals with this syndrome may 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 that occur immediately after eating, these reactions can manifest hours later. Some patients only have gastrointestinal symptoms. The American Gastroenterological Association recommends that anyone experiencing unexplained diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain should be tested for this syndrome. Doctors advise individuals with this type of allergy to change their diet and avoid situations where they might be bitten by ticks. The allergy may resolve in some individuals, but Dr. Commins states that this occurs in only about 15 to 20 percent of his patients. Avoiding further bites is key to eliminating the allergy in individuals.