As if unwalkable American suburbia wasn't enough of a dystopian nightmare, there is now a tick lurking in these soulless hellscapes that can cause a red meat allergy.
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There has been an outbreak of something known as alpha-gal syndrome in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The disease, which makes people fatally ill to red meat, has been attributed to ticks in the area.
Ticks saliva contains alpha-gal which, when introduces to human blood, tricks the body into believing red meat is harmful. Both the lone star tick and the deer tick carry the meat allergy-causing saliva.
The lone star stick, which is the primary culprit, is found in southeastern, south-central and mid-Atlantic regions of the US. They like grassy and wooded areas with open development and a large mix of trees. They will wait in long, warm, moist grass for animals to pass and latch onto. Usually these are deer and dogs, but humans are just as susceptible.
One bite from a tick carrying the meat eating allergy and you're done for.
Meat Eating Allergy Alpha-Gal - All You Need To Know
Alpha-gal, the meat eating allergy carried by the suburban tick, causes a reaction to a specific sugar molecule found in red meat. The reactions can be life threatening, and there is no known cure. It triggers an immune system reaction to the sugars found in red meats.
The symptoms will usually appear 2 to 6 hours after coming into contact with red meat. They include hives or itchy rash, nausea or vomiting, severe stomach pain, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, a cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids.
At present, the only cure for the nasty reactions is a shot of epinephrine and a quick trip to the ER. Some of the reactions to alpha-gal can be fatal, so it's best to act with caution.
Currently, it is expected that the vast increase in the meat eating allergy cases comes primarily from the lone star tick. If you happen to live somewhere with them, best stay away from long, warm, wet grass. At the very least, make sure you wear long sleeves and pants.
As if the suburbs could become any less human friendly.
