By 2012, it had already been found in 39 states, according to one study. Scientists first began noticing an allergic reaction to alpha-gal in 2006, but it was not until several years later that they understood it was likely caused by the bite of the lone star tick. In the meantime, other devastating pests that were previously constrained by cooler temperatures - like the dengue virus-carrying tiger mosquito, or the cabbage-munching harlequin bug - have also marched forth beyond their historic ranges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 20, the total number of tick-borne diseases in the United States more than doubled. “What we’re now seeing is a wide open door for ticks to continue expanding their range further northward bringing more people into the fold of the arthropod-borne diseases,” said Michael Raupp, a professor emeritus in entomology at the University of Maryland. At the same time, alpha-gal diagnoses appear to be rising. With more hot days each year, the ticks, which thrive in warm and humid conditions, have more time to feed on their hosts and reproduce. The tick’s territory is expanding, thanks in part to global warming, say scientists. They’re historically found in the southern United States, but increasingly, these arachnids are being spotted in parts of the Midwest and the Northeast. Prevention involves avoiding tick bites, red meat and other alpha-gal containing products in sensitized individuals.Researchers have traced the syndrome to the lone star tick, named for the signature white splotch, or “lone star,” on females’ backs. Immediate symptoms such as hives or shortness of breath are treated the same as any other food allergy, in an urgent care setting with anti-histamines, epinephrine and other medications. People that are bitten by these ticks, especially those that are bitten repeatedly, are at risk of becoming sensitized and can result in allergic reactions. Growing evidence suggests that AGS in the United States may be triggered by the bite of Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) and Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick). Alpha-gal is carried in the saliva of the lone star tick and other ticks typically after feeding on mammalian blood. Anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening reaction involving multiple organ systems) may need urgent medical care. Common symptoms include hives or itching abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids. Individuals with AGS may experience different reactions and symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. Unlike typical food allergies, symptoms are often delayed by two hours or more after exposure and can arise suddenly following years of safe meat consumption. AGS symptoms occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other products containing alpha-gal. Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) (also called alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy) is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to alpha-gal, which is a sugar molecule found in many mammals, but not in people.

Alpha gal allergy