1st death linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy spread by ticks, reported in N.J., researchers say

Lone Star Tick | Courtesy: MGN

A New Jersey man is the first person believed to have died from a so-called meat allergy triggered by a tick bite, researchers say.

The man died in September 2024, but researchers just recently linked the death to the allergy, known as alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS.

According to experts, the bite of a Lone Star tick can lead an individual to develop a sensitivity or allergy to alpha-gal, a sugar found in red meat and dairy products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says AGS can cause hives, nausea, stomach pain, breathing issues and swelling.

Man died several hours after eating hamburger at barbecue

According to researchers, a 47-year-old New Jersey man went on a camping trip with his wife and children in summer 2024, and after spending the da