Nearly half a million Americans have developed a red meat allergy after being bitten by a TICK – and majority are completely unaware of the link, CDC research says
Reaction, called alpha-gal syndrome, caused by sugar carried by ticks
When it gets in body it triggers immune overreaction and body learns to fight it
Nearly half a million people in America have developed a meat allergy since 2010 after being bitten by a tick, health officials believe.
Studies published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today confirmed at least 100,000 patients have fallen victim to the condition, but researchers estimate as many as 450,000 are affected.
The reaction, called alpha-gal syndrome, occurs when an infected person eats beef, pork, venison or other red meat.
But it can also be triggered by milk, gelatin or other animal products. It is caused by a sugar, alpha-gal, that is in meat from mammals – and in tick spit.
When the sugar enters the body through the skin, it triggers an immune response and can lead to a severe allergic reaction.
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