Alpha-Gal Syndrome Reshapes Lives and Fuels Policy Debate
Alpha-gal syndrome—a tick-bite–triggered allergy to red meat and other mammal products—shapes daily life for patients nationwide, spurring Erin March and daughter Alexis Cottrell to launch an alpha-gal–friendly business, highlighting the need for more research and a federal labeling act; state health officials in New York are building a diagnosis database while advocates call for safer labeling and broader access to appropriate medicines, alongside practical prevention tips such as using insect repellent and promptly removing ticks.