Surprisingly large number of people may have marker for tick-linked meat allergy

Nearly a quarter of adults in states with lone star ticks have alpha-gal antibodies in their blood, according to recent CDC estimates. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergy that can develop after a tick bite, triggered by alpha-gal, a molecule found in most mammals but not in people. Research shows a 100-fold increase in positive test results for alpha-gal antibodies between 2013 and 2024.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-07-07