RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A once-rare condition that causes people to develop an allergy to red meat is spreading rapidly across the United States, according to new research from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
The study found that alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) — a tick-borne disease — has surged dramatically, with a 100-fold increase in reported cases between 2013 and 2024. Researchers said the incidence rate climbed from 23.46% to 94.06% between 2021–22 and 2023–24 alone.
“Alpha-gal syndrome has gone from a medical curiosity to a major public health issue in just a decade,” said Dr. Vinay Jahagirdar, co-author of the study.
The condition is linked to bites from the lone star tick, an “aggressive biter” easily recognized by the distinctive white dot — or “lone star” — on its back. Once found primarily in the Southeast, the tick’s range has expanded both north and south in recent years.
When an infected tick bites a person, it triggers the immune system to produce antibodies to a sugar molecule called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), found in the meat of mammals such as beef, pork, and lamb.
Symptoms can include hives, swelling, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, and in some cases, anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction. However, doctors say many people experience primarily gastrointestinal symptoms that appear hours after eating red meat, making AGS difficult to diagnose.
“Alpha-gal syndrome is unlike any other food allergy we treat,” Jahagirdar said. “Symptoms often appear several hours after eating red meat, so patients and doctors often misdiagnose it.”
Dr. Ravi Vachhani, another study co-author, said the tick’s expanding range means that doctors in new regions must learn to recognize AGS quickly. “The spread of ticks is bringing new allergic diseases to areas where doctors and patients may not expect them. Recognizing this connection is key to protecting public health.”
According to a 2023 CDC study, most suspected AGS cases occurred in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, as well as parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina — regions with high populations of lone star ticks.
While AGS is incurable, symptoms can subside over time if patients avoid further tick bites and eliminate red meat from their diet. Some individuals also react to dairy or gelatin, though not everyone experiences the same triggers.
The Mayo Clinic notes that some patients may regain tolerance for meat products within one to two years.
One patient, Hayden Hurtig, who was diagnosed in middle school, said he eventually recovered after years of avoiding red meat. “If you can completely cut it out, you’ll get over the allergy sooner,” Hurtig said. “The more you eat it, the longer it takes to get over it.”
Health experts recommend preventing tick bites as the best defense. They advise:
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Using insect repellent with at least 20% DEET, picaridin, or IR3535
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Wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors
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Avoiding tall grass and leaf litter
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Bathing and checking for ticks after spending time outdoors
Researchers warn that continued tick migration could make alpha-gal syndrome an increasingly common — and challenging — public health issue nationwide.
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