Henrico Times

A surge in cases of Alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS), an allergy transmitted through tick bites and often referred to as the "red-meat allergy," has prompted a warning from the Virginia Department of Health, highlighting the potentially severe and life-threatening nature of the condition. Health officials urge vigilance in tick bite prevention to mitigate the risk of contracting this uncommon yet dangerous syndrome, Fox News reported.

Health officials in Virginia joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in warning about the escalating cases of AGS, also called "tick bite meat allergy," a potentially life-threatening condition. AGS can induce severe symptoms, including hives, upset stomach and diarrhea, and can cause death, Fox reported.

Alpha-Gal Syndrome can be contracted from the bites of lone star ticks, which are common in Virginia. The lone star tick injects a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the human body through its saliva, triggering an immune response that produces antibodies, the Fox story said. This response makes it hard for the immune system to distinguish between alpha-gal from tick bites and that from consumed food, leading to potential allergic reactions, the Virginia Department of Health told Fox.

Individuals who acquire the allergy, usually during warmer months when tick activity increases, must steer clear of consuming items containing the alpha-gal sugar molecule, which can induce allergic responses to fatty meats such as pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, and venison, along with products derived from mammals like protein powders, dairy, and gelatin, the Fox News report said. Also,  some medications, including the cancer drug Cetuximab, can trigger allergic reactions. Health officials say that for anyone bitten by a tick or concerned about Lyme disease, understanding appropriate measures for both oneself and pets is crucial, Fox reported.

Symptoms of AGS typically manifest around four to eight hours after consuming red meat, the Fox story said. 

"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 and such," Julia Murphy, a state public health veterinarian with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), said, according to Fox News.