You may be alergic to red meat?

August 8, 2014

In a scientific paper first published in 2011, scientists have discovered that the bite of the Lone Star tick (in the U.S.) can cause an allergy to red meat to develop.

The Lone Star tick may have a sugar called alpha-gal, which humans do not have. When bitten that sugar triggers an immune system response. The human antibodies then promote an allergic reaction the next time the person encounters the alpha-gal, which is contained in red meat. It is the transmission of the sugar, directly injected into the blood that begins the production of the antibodies, which does not happen by simply eating the meat, which would be digested.

An alergist in New York reports seeing some 200 cases. Another in Virginia reports seeing 2 or 3 a week. Variations of this have been reported in Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Japan and Korea. Symptoms include: swelling of hands, lips and tongue with severe itching and hives. Hospitalization may be required.

In the United States the problem seems to be spreading from the Southwest and East to other parts.

NOTE: My information comes from an Associated Press release, by Marilynn Marchione and published in the DENVER POST, August 8, 2014. However, my statement above is not a direct quote.