Suffolk County, New York, has been identified as the leading county in the United States for suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy triggered by the bite of a tick, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy to mammal meat that is caused by tick bites. The syndrome can cause symptoms such as hives, rash, nausea, and vomiting, and in severe cases, it can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
In Suffolk County, doctors have been seeing cases of alpha-gal syndrome for over a decade. Dr. Erin McGintee, an allergist with ENT and Allergy Associates in Southampton, estimates that she has treated close to 900 cases of alpha-gal over the last 12 years. She has noticed an increase in the number of cases each year.
The CDC data revealed that between 2017 and 2022, there were 90,018 people across the US who received a positive test result and were classified as having suspected alpha-gal syndrome. Suffolk County had the highest number of suspected cases with 3,746, followed by Bedford, Virginia, with 1,511 cases.
The main tick species responsible for the syndrome is the lone star tick. While the lone star tick is prevalent on Long Island, experts believe that other tick species can also cause the allergy. As the deer population expands and moves west, the ticks, including the lone star ticks, also move. The lone star tick bite is primarily responsible for alpha-gal syndrome.
Diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome includes evaluating symptoms and testing for antibodies. The number of people with positive test results in the US grew from 13,371 in 2017 to 18,885 in 2021, as per the CDC. However, not everyone who tests positive for antibodies will develop the allergy. Some doctors may order tests for clients who were bitten by ticks but had no symptoms of the allergy.
The CDC estimates that between 2010 and 2022, over 110,000 suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome were identified across the US. However, due to many cases going undiagnosed, the agency believes that as many as 450,000 people may have been affected by the allergy.
Experts urge people to avoid tick bites, monitor for ticks, and remove them as soon as possible. They also advise those with suspected alpha-gal syndrome to seek evaluation from an allergist and be cautious of misinformation on the internet, as incorrect information may lead individuals to avoid unnecessary foods. Proper evaluation and counseling are necessary to manage the allergy effectively.