Man dies hours after eating burger as researchers confirm fatal allergy
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The death of a New Jersey man is the first known to be linked to a tick-borne meat allergy, according to researchers at UVAHealth in Virginia.
The unidentified man, 47, reportedly died last summer, four hours after eating a hamburger and just two weeks after a similar episode caused by a steak.
With the summer episode, the man experienced severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting after eating the steak, according to a UVAHealth news release.
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The incident was initially reported as a “sudden, unexplained death” until UVA Health’s Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills determined the man suffered a fatal allergic reaction.
The findings were published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
The death of a New Jersey man is the first known to be linked to a tick-borne meat allergy, according to researchers at UVAHealth in Virginia. (iStock)
The allergy, alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also known as “red meat allergy” or “tick bite meat allergy,” is caused by the bite of the Lone Star tick, which is primarily found in the Southeastern and Eastern states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tick saliva contains a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, which is injected into the body with the bite. This triggers allergies to certain types of red meat (mainly pork, beef, rabbit, lamb or venison) or products made from mammals (including cheese, milk, other dairy products and gelatin).
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When people eat any food that contains allergens, they can experience severe allergy symptoms within a few hours, although some may only have mild reactions.
According to researchers, symptoms can include rash, nausea and vomiting after eating beef, pork or lamb. Some may also experience itchy or scaly skin; swelling of lips, face, tongue and throat; and wheezing or difficulty breathing, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The allergy, alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also known as “red meat allergy” or “tick bite meat allergy,” is caused by the bite of the Lone Star tick. (iStock)
Although fatal anaphylaxis has been noted to be a rare risk in severe cases, the New Jersey man’s death was the first to be attributed to the allergy.
Other factors that may have contributed to his severe reaction, according to Platts-Mills, include a beer he drank with his burger, his exposure to ragweed pollen, and recent exercise.
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“Important information for the public is: First, that severe abdominal pain that occurs three to five hours after eating beef, pork or lamb should be investigated as a possible episode of anaphylaxis; and, second, that bites from ticks that itch for more than a week or tick larvae often called ‘chiggers’ can induce or increase sensitization to meat derived from mammals,” Platts-Mills, former chief of the Division of Asthma and Allergies at UVA Health. and Clinical Immunology, said in the statement.
“On the other hand, most people who have mild to moderate hives episodes can control their symptoms with proper diet.”
Tick saliva contains a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, which is injected into the body with the bite. This triggers allergies to certain types of red meat. (iStock)
A diagnosis of AGS requires antibody testing and a clinical examination. Many patients face a long road to diagnosis: an average of seven years, according to Dr. Johanna Salzer, a CDC epidemiologist and author of a 2023 report on AGS.
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“And to be diagnosed, they have to have access to an allergist,” Salzer previously told News Digital. “For many people, there are barriers to getting that level of treatment.”
When someone is diagnosed with AGS, they may have it for life.
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“However, for some people, if they eliminate foods that can reactivate alpha-gal syndrome from their diet, over time, their antibody levels may decrease,” the expert said.
There is no treatment or cure for AGS, although doctors can help patients manage their symptoms.
When people eat any food that contains allergens, they can experience severe allergy symptoms within a few hours, although some may only have mild reactions. (iStock)
“There are several things [that] “Health care providers may provide relief from symptoms depending on patients’ individual reactions,” Salzer said.
“Those with more severe reactions are given EpiPens in case they go into anaphylactic shock.”
Prevention Tips
To protect against tick bites, Salzer recommends applying EPA-approved insect repellent—those that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), paramentanediol (PMD), or 2-undecanone—whenever you go to an area where tick bites are possible.
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Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks and avoiding grassy, brushy, and wooded areas can also help prevent bites.
“When you return from an area where ticks are known to be present, be sure to shower and do a thorough check,” Salzer said.
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Platts-Mills urged doctors and patients who live in areas where Lone Star ticks are common to be aware of the risk.
“More specifically, if they have unexpected episodes of severe abdominal pain that occur several hours after eating mammalian meat, they should be investigated for possible sensitization to alpha-gal oligosaccharide,” he added.
News Digital reached out to investigators for comment.
Melissa Rudy is a senior health editor and member of the lifestyle team at News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@News.com.