Health officials are working to raise awareness of alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening allergy to red meat that can be triggered by tick bites, the Associated Press reported.
The condition, which can also cause reactions to dairy in some people, arises when a tick bite transmits a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into a person’s bloodstream, leading the immune system to mount a severe allergic response against it. Symptoms can include hives, diarrhea, and itchiness after consuming as little as a mouthful of meat from cows, pigs, or lambs.
First linked to a particular species of ticks roughly 15 years ago, cases of alpha-gal syndrome are on the rise, according to health officials. For years, the only treatment has been strict avoidance of mammalian meat and carrying an epinephrine injector in case of anaphylaxis.
But the Associated Press reported that regulators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first pharmaceutical drug specifically for the condition. Additional therapies may be in development, the wire service said.
The allergy does not affect the consumption of chicken, turkey, eggs, or seafood — those foods remain safe for individuals diagnosed with the condition, officials said.
As tick seasons have expanded in many regions across the United States, concern over tick-borne illnesses has grown. MSI previously reported that tick season got off to a fast start this spring, with the CDC warning of increased Lyme disease risk. While alpha-gal syndrome remains less widely known than Lyme disease, health officials said the growing number of cases prompted the latest push for public awareness.
The Associated Press report is part of the outlet’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health.