Up to 450,000 in U.S. have red meat allergies due to alpha-gal syndrome spread by ticks, CDC says
Thousands more Americans are now testing positive each year for alpha-gal syndrome — a condition spread by tick bites that causes allergic reactions to eating red meat. New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows up to 450,000 people in the U.S. may have been affected since 2010.These figures mark a steep increase in cases since alpha-gal syndrome was first reported among a handful of Virginians in 2008 after being bitten by ticks. Many cases are also likely going undiagnosed, the CDC now says, citing "concerning" knowledge gaps found in a separate study among American doctors surveyed about the red meat allergy.
"The burden of alpha-gal syndrome in the United States could be substantial given the large percentage of cases ...