Surge in Tick-borne Meat Allergy Poses Serious Health Risks
WHO:
AP - Dr. Scott Commins, an alpha-gal syndrome researcher at the University of North Carolina.
AP - Maria Diuk-Wasser, a Columbia University researcher who studies tick-borne diseases.
WHAT:
Action News 5 - The FDA approved genetically modified pigs that do not produce alpha-gal for consumption in 2020, known as "GalSafe" pigs, which are available from a company called Amaroo Hills.
Action News 5 - The allergy can fade away in some people after several years, with Dr. Scott Commins observing this in about 15% to 20% of his patients.
AP - Alpha-gal syndrome is a life-threatening allergy to meat triggered by tick bites.
AP - Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome include hives, diarrhea, and itchiness after consuming meat or dairy.
AP - Approximately 450,000 Americans are estimated to have developed alpha-gal syndrome, according to a 2023 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
AP - The FDA approved an injectable drug called Xolair for alpha-gal syndrome in 2024.
WHERE:
AP - The lone star tick, the primary source of alpha-gal syndrome, is most common in the eastern and southern U.S. and has been reported in the Great Lakes region and as far north as Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
WHEN:
AP - Alpha-gal syndrome was first linked to a particular species of ticks about 15 years ago.
AP - The FDA approved the drug Xolair in 2024.
WHY:
AP - Increased awareness among health professionals and the public has contributed to the rise in diagnosed cases of alpha-gal syndrome.
AP - The expanding habitat range of the lone star tick is also a factor in the rising cases of the syndrome.
HOW:
Action News 5 - The injectable drug Xolair, approved by the FDA in 2024, helps reduce severe allergic reactions after accidental exposure to meat but does not reverse alpha-gal syndrome.
AP - Alpha-gal syndrome occurs when the human immune system triggers an allergic response to a type of sugar known as alpha-gal, which is found in the meat of most mammals and in the saliva of certain ticks.
AP - Diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome is based on blood tests detecting alpha-gal antibodies, symptoms, and patient-reported details, including recent bug bites.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 21:42 UTC)
The FDA has approved genetically modified pigs, known as "GalSafe" pigs, which do not produce alpha-gal and are available from Amaroo Hills. Dr. Scott Commins has noted that the allergy associated with alpha-gal can fade in about 15% to 20% of his patients over time. Additionally, the injectable drug Xolair, which was approved by the FDA in 2024, helps to reduce severe allergic reactions after accidental exposure to meat, although it does not reverse alpha-gal syndrome.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 18:07 UTC)
Researchers Dr. Scott Commins from the University of North Carolina and Maria Diuk-Wasser from Columbia University are shedding light on alpha-gal syndrome, a life-threatening allergy to meat triggered by tick bites, which affects approximately 450,000 Americans. Symptoms can include hives, diarrhea, and itchiness after consuming meat or dairy, and the FDA approved an injectable drug called Xolair for this condition in 2024. The lone star tick, the primary source of alpha-gal syndrome, is expanding its habitat in the eastern and southern U.S., contributing to the rise in diagnosed cases as awareness among health professionals and the public increases.