First Recorded Fatality from Tick-Driven 'Red Meat Allergy' Reported in New Jersey

A healthy 47-year-old man from New Jersey suddenly died after delayed allergic reactions to red meat; it was later confirmed to be caused by alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), marking the first documented fatality linked to tick-driven mammalian meat allergy

His symptoms began hours after eating beef following a recent camping trip, during which he sustained 12 to 13 suspected lone star tick bites — exposure to this tick is now known to trigger the immune sensitization that leads to AGS

AGS occurs when the lone star tick introduces the alpha-gal sugar molecule into the bloodstream, causing the body to form antibodies and react severely, sometimes fatally, upon future consumption of mammalian meat or byproducts

Cases of AGS are rising explosively across the United States, with documented diagnoses climbing from 12 in 2009 to more than 110,000 by 2022; estimates suggest over 450,000 Americans may be affected

Experts warn that expanding tick ranges, misdiagnoses, and lack of awareness among healthcare providers are fueling this hidden public health threat, emphasizing the urgent need for preventive tick-bite strategies and proper tick removal techniques