Red Meat allergy ,A man has died in New Jersey

A New Jersey man is believed to have died from alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy caused by tick bites.

According to a case study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey, the man, a 47-year-old airline pilot, was otherwise healthy.

In the summer of 2024, he went camping with his wife and children. A few hours after eating a beef steak for dinner, he woke up with stomach discomfort, followed by diarrhea and vomiting.

Red meat allergies caused by tick bites are on the rise.

His condition eventually improved, and although he talked to his wife about consulting a doctor, they ultimately decided not to do so.

Two weeks later, in September, the man and his wife went to a barbecue in New Jersey, where he ate a hamburger.

Four hours later, the man was found unconscious on his bathroom floor. Paramedics tried to revive him and took him to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

After inconclusive results, the cause of death was initially reported as "sudden, unexplained death." The man's wife gave the autopsy report to a doctor, who referred him to an allergist.

According to a case study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice, the specialist used blood samples to determine that the man had suffered an extreme reaction to alpha-gal, similar to a fatal anaphylaxis or allergic reaction.

When asked if he had been bitten by ticks before, his wife said he had been bitten by ticks before and that in early summer, he had at least 12 or 13 "chigger" bites around his ankles. Researchers said that in the eastern United States, what are sometimes called "chiggers" are often the larvae of the lone star tick.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs after eating red meat or consuming products containing alpha-gal. Alpha-gal is a type of sugar found in most mammals.

According to the CDC report, the tick-borne disease babesiosis is spreading in the United States.

This syndrome is typically caused by tick bites, often from lone star ticks, which transfer alpha-gal to the patient's body and, in turn, trigger an immune system response.

Although tracking is limited, the CDC said it estimates that more than 110,000 cases of AGS were identified between 2010 and 2022.

According to the agency, the actual number of cases is unknown, but up to 450,000 people may be affected. In 2023, two CDC studies referred to AGS as an "emerging public health concern."

ASGS symptoms can include hives or an itchy rash, nausea or vomiting, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and severe abdominal pain. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and usually appear two to six hours after consuming products containing alpha-gal.

The CDC says the best way to prevent AGS is to avoid tick bites. This includes knowing where ticks may be, such as in wooded areas; using products containing the insecticide permethrin on clothing and equipment; and walking along trails rather than in bushy areas.