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New Jersey Man’s Death Linked to Alpha-Gal Syndrome in Tragic First Documented Case
A New Jersey airline pilot’s sudden passing is believed to mark the first documented fatality directly linked to alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a severe meat allergy triggered by tick bites. The 47-year-old, otherwise healthy, succumbed to a fatal allergic reaction after consuming a hamburger, according to a recent case study.
The incident began in the summer of 2024 when the man, while camping with his family, experienced severe abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and vomiting a few hours after eating beef steak. While his condition improved, a follow-up medical consultation was not pursued.
Two weeks later, in September, the man attended a barbecue in New Jersey. Approximately four hours after eating a hamburger, he was found unconscious in his bathroom. Despite resuscitation efforts by paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Initially, the cause of death was ruled “sudden unexplained death” due to inconclusive findings. However, a subsequent review of the autopsy report by an allergy specialist, prompted by his wife, identified an extreme alpha-gal reaction consistent with fatal anaphylaxis.
Further investigation revealed that the man had a history of tick bites, and earlier that summer, he had sustained numerous “chigger” bites around his ankles. Researchers noted that in the eastern U.S., these are often larvae of the Lone Star tick, a primary culprit in transmitting alpha-gal.
Alpha-gal syndrome is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a sugar molecule found in most mammals, which is transferred to humans through tick bites, primarily from the Lone Star tick. The body’s immune system then develops an allergic response to this sugar.
While tracking is limited, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates over 110,000 AGS cases were identified between 2010 and 2022, with up to 450,000 people potentially affected. The CDC has designated AGS an “emerging public health concern.”
Symptoms of AGS, which typically appear two to six hours after consuming alpha-gal products, can range from mild to severe and include hives, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and severe stomach pain.
The CDC emphasizes that the most effective protection against AGS is preventing tick bites. This includes being aware of tick-prone areas, treating clothing and gear with permethrin, and staying in the center of trails in wooded environments.