Forget for a moment the usual suspects of allergy triggers like pollen, nuts or animal hair and get ready for a new, rather unexpected enemy: red meat. The culprits are barely half a centimeter tall and are suspected of having turned thousands of people into meat allergy sufferers. We're talking about the Lone Star tick. We ourselves HERE in and HERE in .

The Lone Star tick and meat allergy

A tick bite can be so much more than just a short-lived inconvenience. Alpha-Gal Syndrome is a newly identified meat allergy caused by a bite from the Lone Star tick. These tiny parasites live primarily in the eastern half of the United States and cause symptoms that can range from extreme itching to vomiting and diarrhea to difficulty breathing and irregular heartbeat. And worst of all, symptoms often only appear hours after eating meat.

But, like Dr. Scott Commins, one of the leading experts in the field, warns: “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

The silent epidemic: alpha-gal syndrome

Back in 2009, there were just a few dozen known cases of alpha-gal syndrome. Almost a decade and a half later, the number of those affected has reached alarming levels. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of cases has now more than tripled and up to 450,000 people could be affected.

“We see eight to 10 new patients every week, and these are people who have developed a reaction in the last few years, if not the last few months,” says Commins.

The number of unreported cases could be even higher. Many people who feel nauseous after eating meat may have simply stopped eating meat without getting tested.

The influence of climate change on the distribution of the Lone Star tick

One factor contributing to the increase in this meat allergy is climate change. As temperatures rise, the Lone Star tick's habitat expands, and with it the possibility of more people being bitten.

How to protect yourself from tick bites

A bite from the Lone Star tick can mean the loss of your beloved barbecue evening. But there is hope. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from tick bites:

  • Avoid grassy, ​​bushy, and wooded areas where ticks can reside.
  • Wear clothing treated with permethrin.
  • Use insect repellents approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Check your clothing and body for ticks when you get home after spending time outdoors.
  • Check your pets for ticks when they return from outside.

There is no cure for alpha-gal syndrome, but if you avoid further tick bites, symptoms often resolve within three to five years.

ClaimsFact check
The Lone Star tick causes meat allergiesCorrect . A bite from the Lone Star tick can trigger alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy.
Symptoms of a meat allergy caused by the Lone Star tick often appear hours after eating meatCorrect . Symptoms of a meat allergy caused by the Lone Star tick may be delayed.
The number of people suffering from alpha-gal syndrome has tripled in recent yearsCorrect , according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report.
Climate change is contributing to the increase in meat allergiesCorrect , because climate change is expanding the Lone Star tick's habitat.
There is no cure for Alpha-Gal SyndromeCorrect , there is no specific cure, but symptoms can often resolve within three to five years if further tick bites are avoided.
You can protect yourself from tick bites by avoiding grassy, ​​brushy, and wooded areas, wearing clothing treated with permethrin, using Environmental Protection Agency-approved insect repellents, and checking yourself and your pets for ticksCorrect , these are generally accepted methods for preventing tick bites.

Conclusion

The Lone Star tick and the alpha-gal syndrome it causes represent a rapidly spreading health threat that is poorly understood but very real. As science and medicine strive to find solutions, we can all do our part to protect ourselves and our families through precautions and vigilance. And in the meantime, we may need to rethink our diet a little.

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Source: Insider.com

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Article image: Lone Star Tick Lisa Zins /flickr (CC BY 2.0)


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