University of Virginia (UVA) scientists identified the first known death linked to alpha-gal syndrome, the tick-borne “meat allergy.”
A 47-year-old New Jersey man died after eating beef, with symptoms striking hours later. The cause was unclear until UVA allergist Thomas Platts-Mills, who first discovered the condition, tested post-mortem blood samples and found extreme sensitization to alpha-gal. Platts-Mills believes additional factors, such as alcohol, pollen exposure and exercise, may have worsened the reaction.
The allergy, caused by Lone Star tick bites, can trigger severe reactions after consuming beef, pork or lamb.
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