A rare red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome is drawing new attention as researchers link it not only to the lone star tick but also to other U.S. tick species, raising concerns about growing risks and underdiagnosis.
Cathy Raley’s sudden allergic reaction in 2017 began with hives and escalated into a severe anaphylactic episode that landed her in the hospital. At 61, with no known allergies, she was stunned—until she remembered a tick bite weeks earlier while hiking near her home in Olympia, Washington.
After consulting with allergist Dr. William Butler, Raley was diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome, a rare red meat allergy triggered by certain tick bites. Traditionally linked to the lone star tick, which is not found west of the Rocky Mountains, her case—and another in Maine—has led researchers to believe that other species, like the western blacklegged tick and the blacklegged (deer) tick, may also cause the condition.
Alpha-gal syndrome stems from an allergic reaction to a sugar molecule (alpha-gal) found in mammalian meat and transmitted through tick saliva. Symptoms can range from hives and stomach issues to life-threatening anaphylaxis—and they often appear hours after eating red meat, making the condition difficult to diagnose.
“It’s unique in that adults can suddenly develop it,” said Dr. Sarah McGill, a gastroenterologist at the University of North Carolina, noting many patients have their symptoms dismissed. There’s no cure, though some may eventually tolerate red meat again.
Despite more than 110,000 suspected U.S. cases since 2010, alpha-gal syndrome remains little known. A 2023 CDC survey found 42% of healthcare providers were unaware of the condition, and many who had heard of it didn’t know how to diagnose or test for it.
The best prevention? Avoid tick bites altogether. Health experts recommend staying on trails, avoiding tall grasses, wearing light-colored, tightly woven clothing, and using EPA-registered tick repellents. Unlike other tick-borne diseases, alpha-gal syndrome doesn’t require a tick to remain attached for long—meaning even a brief bite can trigger the allergy.
Researchers are still trying to understand why some people develop the condition while others don’t, and what makes lone star ticks particularly potent in triggering the immune response.
Raley, now retired, avoids red meat and takes strict precautions outdoors. “Something’s changed,” she says, noting a rise in tick encounters on her property. “We never had ticks before—now we find them every spring and summer.”
Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and China Eximbank Chairman Chen Huaiyu signed a $500 million loan agreement for the telecom sector on June 21.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has outlined an ambitious vision for human settlements in space by 2040, with autonomous “space oases” on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The world is facing a health financing emergency as global health investment risks falling to its lowest level in a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
Japan’s core inflation rose to a more than two-year high in May, exceeding the central bank’s 2% target for over three years and increasing pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to resume rate hikes.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov discussed bilateral partnership and regional security on the sidelines of the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Istanbul.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has outlined an ambitious vision for human settlements in space by 2040, with autonomous “space oases” on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The world is facing a health financing emergency as global health investment risks falling to its lowest level in a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
Japan’s core inflation rose to a more than two-year high in May, exceeding the central bank’s 2% target for over three years and increasing pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to resume rate hikes.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov discussed bilateral partnership and regional security on the sidelines of the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Istanbul.
Kyrgyzstan's First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Daniyar Amangeldiev met with Gazprombank First Vice President Oleg Melnikov during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to discuss strengthening financial cooperation.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has outlined an ambitious vision for human settlements in space by 2040, with autonomous “space oases” on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
In what experts are calling the most extensive data breach in digital history, nearly 16 billion user records have been compromised globally, according to a new investigative report by Cybernews.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has alleged that Meta Platforms offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million to OpenAI employees in an attempt to recruit top talent, underscoring the intensifying competition among tech firms for artificial intelligence expertise.
The Trump Organization has unveiled "Trump Mobile," a $499 smartphone and wireless service aimed at conservative consumers, marking its entry into the highly competitive telecom market.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has outlined an ambitious vision for human settlements in space by 2040, with autonomous “space oases” on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The world is facing a health financing emergency as global health investment risks falling to its lowest level in a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
Japan’s core inflation rose to a more than two-year high in May, exceeding the central bank’s 2% target for over three years and increasing pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to resume rate hikes.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov discussed bilateral partnership and regional security on the sidelines of the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Istanbul.
Kyrgyzstan's First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Daniyar Amangeldiev met with Gazprombank First Vice President Oleg Melnikov during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to discuss strengthening financial cooperation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment