That is a tragic and very significant development regarding tick-borne illnesses.

The death of the New Jersey man is believed to be the first documented fatality directly linked to Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), a condition triggered by a specific type of tick bite.

Here is what you should know about Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), also known as the “red meat allergy”:

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)

Feature Description

The CauseA bite from the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) is the most common cause in the U.S.

The TriggerThe tick’s saliva transfers a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the person’s bloodstream.

The Reaction The body’s immune system recognizes alpha-gal as an invader and creates antibodies against it.

The Allergy When the person later eats mammalian meat (like beef, pork, or lamb), which naturally contains the alpha-gal sugar, their immune system triggers a severe allergic reaction.

Symptoms Hives, swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Delayed ReactionA key distinguishing feature is that the reaction is often delayed—appearing 3 to 6 hours after eating the meat, which can make diagnosis difficult.

The Significance of the N.J. Death
First Documented Fatality: While millions of people are believed to have AGS, this case is the first reported instance where AGS was cited as the primary cause of death.

Cause of Death: The man’s death was linked to an anaphylactic reaction (a severe, whole-body allergic reaction) after consuming alpha-gal.

Growing Concern: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently highlighted that the number of suspected AGS cases has risen dramatically in the U.S.

What to Do
The most important step is tick bite prevention:

Avoid Grassy Areas: Stay out of tall grass and leaf litter.

Use Repellent: Apply products containing DEET or permethrin.

Check Daily: Perform thorough tick checks on yourself, children, and pets after spending time outdoors.

If someone suspects they have an AGS reaction, they should seek immediate medical attention.

A man from New Jersey died from a red meat allergy brought on by ticks. Here’s what you should know.

Scientists claim to have recorded the first recorded case of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy brought on by tick bites.

The University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers’ findings were published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study states a 47-year-old jet pilot in New Jersey felt unwell four hours after eating a cheeseburger at a barbecue in 2024. The father was discovered comatose on a bathroom floor covered in vomit by his son. At the hospital, the man was pronounced dead. According to the autopsy, the death was “sudden unexplained.”

The man had become ill a few hours after eating a steak meal two weeks before to his death. He woke up with stomach ache, writhed in agony, had diarrhea, and vomited. Telling his son, “I believed I was going to die,” However, the man and his spouse said they were unsure of how to explain what had happened, so they chose not to see a doctor.

The individual experienced an allergic reaction, according to a blood sample taken after his death. According to his wife, he suffered 12 or 13 “chigger,” or microscopic mite larvae, bites around his ankles earlier that summer, which resulted in uncomfortable, tiny lumps. However, researchers think the bites were actually from lone star tick larvae, which can induce alpha-gal syndrome.

Alpha-gal syndrome: what is it?
Red meat allergies are brought on by the tick-borne disease known as alpha-gal syndrome.

Mammals including lambs, pigs, and cows have the sugar molecule alpha-gal. Additionally, certain ticks’ saliva contains it. Alpha-gal can cause an anaphylactic reaction or a hive-like rash two to six hours after a person eats meat because humans can not make the chemical.

According to Saravanan Thangamani, director of Upstate Medical University’s SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, “it is like it is trying to fight off.” “It is an alien entity. But essentially, we get this allergy or anaphylactic shock as a result.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2010 and 2022, over 110,000 probable cases were found. However, the CDC stated that since many people are not aware of the allergy and it necessitates a diagnostic test, the actual number of instances is probably greater, affecting up to 450,000 people.

According to a CDC report published in July 2023, 42% of healthcare professionals polled indicated they had never heard of the illness.

Alpha-gal syndrome testing is recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association for anyone experiencing unexplained diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Alpha-gal syndrome is mostly linked to lone star ticks in the United States, the CDC reports. Lone star ticks are prevalent in the South, East, and Central states, where the majority of cases are documented.

The number of lone star tick encounters sent to Thangamani’s Upstate Tick Testing Laboratory in New York this year increased compared to 2024, he added. He also observes that lone star ticks are moving northward.

“We encountered lone star tick encounters in seven counties in New York State in 2023,” Thangamani stated. We received roughly 15 counties this year. This is concerning since, in addition to growing in quantity, they are also spreading geographically.

How can I defend myself?

Alpha-gal syndrome cannot be prevented by vaccination. Doctors advise their patients to avoid eating meats like beef, hog, lamb, venison, or rabbit after contracting an infection.

According to Thangamani, avoiding tick-borne diseases primarily involves preventing tick bites. This include avoiding tick habitats, donning protective clothes, and applying repellents like DEET.

If a tick bites you, take it off as soon as you can and store it in a plastic bag. In this manner, medical professionals may determine the type of tick and possibly do a disease test.

According to Thangamani, “removing the tick as soon as we return from an outside activity generally eliminates a lot of complications that develop after a tick bite, but we can not limit the tick exposure.”