I-TEAM: Some push to track potentially deadly meat allergy caused by tick bite
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - An Augusta allergist says he has hundreds of patients with a potentially life-threatening tick-borne illness, and he’s not talking about Lyme disease.
It’s called Alpha-gal Syndrome, and it makes you dangerously allergic to red meat.
It’s such a concern in our area that researchers at Emory University spent the last five years tracking the tick that causes it and just released a map showing where it’s most prevalent.
Augusta and surrounding counties are right in the danger zone.
“If you’re not careful, it can kill you,” said Taylor Hartley.
The Washington County man was diagnosed with Alpha-gal just before Thanksgiving, but there’s no telling when – or where – he was bitten.
Hartley loves to hunt and fish, but he doesn’t just play outside.
As a farm appraiser, he often works outside, too.
“Whether I got this tick, at work, or whether I got it in a deer stand, it is what it is. It’s life,” he said.
Hartley is lucky because he caught it early.
Like a lot of patients, he doesn’t remember the tick bite.
Even if he did, the allergy typically doesn’t show up until six to eight weeks later, unlike most food allergy symptoms which show up instantly.
“The problem with Alpha-gal is it’s delayed by so much time, like four to five hours, that they don’t make the association,” said Dr. Donnie Dunagan.
Dr. Dunagan is Hartley’s allergist.
He says he has hundreds of patients with Alpha-gal syndrome, just like Hartley.
Still, the Georgia Department of Public Health only lists Alpha-gal syndrome under “emerging tick-borne diseases” where “cases are rarely reported in Georgia.”
The I-TEAM asked DPH how it lists cases as rare if Dr. Dunagan sees hundreds just in his Augusta practice.
“Because Alpha-Gal Syndrome is not a notifiable condition at either the federal or state level, it is rarely reported to DPH,” wrote Nancy Nydam, Director of Communications for the Georgia Department of Public Health, in an email.
That could change, thanks to legislation on Capitol Hill.
U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger and Andrew Garbarino have introduced the “Recognize AGS Act” to make Alpha-gal syndrome a nationally notifiable disease.
Rep. Garbarino is a Republican representing New York’s 2nd District, and Rep. Spanberger is a Democrat who represents Virginia’s 7th District.
This year, Virginia became the second state, behind Arkansas, to require mandatory reporting of Alpha-gal cases.
“This is an issue that’s been brought to me by constituents,” said Spanberger.
She spoke to the I-TEAM from her office in Washington, D.C.
“I realized that there’s actually just not a lot of awareness,” said Spanberger. “This is how Lyme disease is tracked and reported. It is a nationally notifiable disease, which means if someone is diagnosed with Lyme disease, through our public health measures, state by state, there’s notification that there’s been a diagnosis -- that there is potentially an area where a tick-borne illness is more prevalent.”
As with any disease, awareness is key.
In 2023, the CDC surveyed 1,500 doctors. 42% said they had never heard of Alpha-gal syndrome. Of those who had, 35% said they were not confident in their ability to detect or treat the illness.
Right now, experts almost fully put the blame on the Lone Star tick, which is the most common tick found on humans in both Georgia and South Carolina.
They get their name from the single white dot or star, females have on their backs. Males don’t have a star, but both carry the disease.
Dr. Dunagan fully believes that with more research – we’ll find more carriers.
“We now know that chiggers, which are very common around here, probably carry the Alpha-gal protein or the Alpha-gal allergy,” said Dr. Dunagan. “And then there’s probably other ticks that cause it too because there are countries that don’t have the Lone Star tick, and they have Alpha-gal.”
Dr. Dunagan also believes it’s important to look at symptoms.
They aren’t exactly unique to Alpha-gal syndrome:
- Hives or itchy rash
- Nausea or vomiting
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
- Drop in blood pressure
- Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids
- Dizziness or faintness
- Severe stomach pain
- Symptoms commonly appear two to six hours after eating meat or dairy products or after exposure to products containing alpha-gal (for example, gelatin-coated medications).
- AGS reactions can vary from person to person. They can range from mild to severe or even life-threatening, such as anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening reaction involving multiple organ systems) and may require urgent medical care.
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Not all patients have all symptoms. Some only break out in hives, others only have stomach issues.
Dr. Dunagan believes this has led to countless patients getting an incorrect diagnosis, like irritable bowel syndrome, for example.
“If you think about it, a lot of the symptoms are the same, especially if they’re not having itching or the hives,” said Dr. Dunagan.” “So, it’s probably more prevalent than what we’re aware of.”
Dr Dunagan says it is not as simple as just avoiding steak or hamburgers. The allergy isn’t to beef in particular; it’s to all mammals.
So, Hartley, an avid hunter, can’t eat deer meat. He also can’t have pork, lamb or bison.
A good rule of thumb, Dr. Dunagan says, is not to eat anything “with a hoof.”
Alpha-gal patients also have to avoid dairy, some medication, some makeup, marshmallows and gelatin. Alcohol and exercise after eating can also exacerbate symptoms.
For the most part, Hartley can control all of that. It’s accidental cross-contamination that has him worried.
“What if you go out and you order a chicken breast, and that night you end up in the emergency room? Well, it was cooked with some kind of red meat, and you didn’t know it,” said Hartley. “It can make you very paranoid and create a lot of anxiety.”
Taylor says he’s still living his life outdoors.
He’s still hunting, fishing, and working, but he’s being more careful. He’s also making sure everyone he knows is being more careful, too.
“I tell my friends and the guys I work with — they walk in the woods like I do. I say, ‘Look, I’m telling you all. You need to spray yourself for ticks,’” said Hartley.
He’s also doing this interview to help you and to make sure you know to be careful.
It’s in his nature.
As a volunteer firefighter for two fire departments, Taylor dedicates his life to saving others, and since early detection is key, he hopes he can help those struggling with Alpha-gal who might not know they have it yet.
He also wants to make sure no one lives in fear.
“Life’s short, and you don’t even know when it can come to an end. So, you know, I’m gonna go out to eat, and I’m gonna enjoy myself and spend time with family and friends, and I’m gonna go in the outdoors,” he said.
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