A New Jersey man’s death has been identified as the first known fatality linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy triggered by the bite of the Lone Star tick. The 47-year-old man experienced a severe, delayed reaction after consuming beef, ultimately leading to anaphylaxis.

Key Takeaways

• The bite of the Lone Star tick can cause a rare allergy to mammalian meat, known as alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).
• Reactions are delayed, typically occurring 3-5 hours after consuming beef, pork, or lamb.
• This case marks the first documented death attributed to AGS.

The Case of the Fatal Reaction

A previously healthy 47-year-old man from New Jersey experienced a severe allergic reaction after eating beef. The incident occurred in two stages. First, after a steak dinner during a camping trip in the summer of 2024, he suffered intense abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, which subsided after a couple of hours. He reportedly told his family he thought he was going to die.

Two weeks later, he ate a hamburger at a barbecue. Several hours after consumption, he collapsed in his bathroom and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. An initial autopsy ruled his death as “sudden unexplained death.”

Unraveling the Mystery

His widow, unsatisfied with the autopsy results, contacted a pediatrician who, in turn, reached out to Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, an allergist at the University of Virginia (UVA) Health. Dr. Platts-Mills is a leading expert who discovered the link between tick bites and the alpha-gal allergy.

Post-mortem blood samples from the man revealed he had been sensitized to alpha-gal, a sugar found in mammalian meat. The samples indicated an extreme allergic reaction consistent with fatal anaphylaxis. His wife recalled that he had sustained numerous “chigger bites” around his ankles earlier that summer, which Dr. Platts-Mills identified as likely bites from Lone Star tick larvae.

Understanding Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome is an immune response triggered by the bite of the Lone Star tick. When bitten, individuals can become sensitized to alpha-gal, a carbohydrate molecule present in most mammals but not in humans. Subsequent consumption of red meat like beef, pork, or lamb can then elicit an allergic reaction.

Symptoms of AGS typically manifest several hours after eating meat and can include:

• Hives or rash
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Breathing difficulties
• A drop in blood pressure
• Swelling of the lips, face, or throat
• Dizziness or fainting

While severe reactions like anaphylaxis were theorized, this case is the first confirmed fatality directly linked to AGS from meat consumption.

Public Health Implications

Dr. Platts-Mills emphasizes the importance of public awareness, especially in areas where Lone Star ticks are prevalent. He advises that severe abdominal pain occurring several hours after eating mammalian meat should be investigated as a potential sign of AGS. The increasing deer population in many regions contributes to a rise in Lone Star tick populations, potentially increasing the number of people at risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 450,000 Americans may have alpha-gal syndrome, though many cases may go undiagnosed due to the delayed onset of symptoms and lack of widespread physician awareness.