Tick bites can trigger a rare meat allergy: alpha-gal syndrome explained

Alpha-gal syndrome is a life-threatening meat allergy linked to tick bites, especially from the lone star tick, estimated to affect about 450,000 Americans. Symptoms typically appear hours after consuming mammal meat or dairy, and diagnosis relies on symptoms plus blood tests that can yield false positives. Management centers on avoiding beef, pork, and lamb, carrying an epinephrine injector, and, in 2024, FDA-approved Xolair to reduce severe reactions; some patients may outgrow the allergy over years, while researchers are exploring additional therapies and considerations like GalSafe pig meat and certain medical implants.