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

A marker for alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-linked meat allergy, may be present in a larger portion of the population than previously documented, according to research findings. Alpha-gal syndrome develops after tick bites from lone star ticks that carry a sugar molecule called alpha-gal. The condition causes allergic reactions to red meat and some other animal products. Researchers continue to investigate why some people exposed to lone star ticks develop the syndrome while others do not.

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