Death Linked to Meat Allergy Triggered by Tick Bite

A New Jersey man is the first person believed to have died from a so-called meat allergy, triggered by a tick bite, say researchers. The man died in September 2024, but researchers have recently linked his death to the allergy known as Alpha-Gal Syndrome or AGS.

What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

According to experts, the bite of a Lone Star tick can cause a person to develop a sensitivity or allergy to alpha-galactose, a carbohydrate found in red meat and dairy products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says AGS can cause hives, nausea, stomach pain, difficulty breathing, and swelling.

Man’s Death

A 47-year-old New Jersey man went on a camping trip with his wife and children in the summer of 2024, and after spending the day outdoors, they ate beef steak for dinner. About four hours later, the man experienced severe abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and vomiting that lasted about two hours. The next morning, the man appeared to be feeling better, but when he spoke to his family about what had happened, he reportedly said, “I thought I was going to die.” However, he decided not to see a doctor because of the symptoms.

About two weeks later, the man attended a barbecue where he ate a hamburger. About four hours after eating, the man was found unconscious on the bathroom floor, surrounded by vomit. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead several hours later.

Postmortem Blood Test

The man’s death was ruled a “sudden, unexplained death,” but his wife asked a medical friend to review the autopsy report. The doctor contacted researchers in Virginia to investigate the possible role of AGS. Earlier this year, the man’s blood was tested, and researchers said it was determined he had suffered an allergic reaction to alpha-gal that resulted in fatal anaphylaxis.

Warning Signs

The man’s wife said he received about a dozen insect bites on his ankles earlier this summer, believed to be from Lone Star tick larvae. According to the researchers, this is “the first documented anaphylactic death associated with AGS in which symptoms began several hours after consumption of mammalian meat.”

Raising Awareness

Doctors want to raise awareness of Alpha-Gal Syndrome, given the increasing presence of Lone Star ticks in northern states and the fact that abdominal pain is not widely recognized as a possible symptom of an allergic reaction. If people notice that they develop stomach pain or skin rashes after eating red meat, they should talk to their doctors about the possibility that they are sensitive to this particular carbohydrate in red meat.

Experts say people who live in areas where Lone Star ticks are common, such as New York and New Jersey, should do everything they can to avoid tick bites. As the seasons change and our climate warms, the number of these ticks increases, and the potential threat increases. People should take every precaution they can to protect themselves from tick bites.