Just Saw this Story Online

https://www.foxnews.com/health/potentially-life-threatening-health-scare-rise-virginia-department-health-cdc-issue-warning

(Sorry for not having live link. Still an idiot with coding).

(Just edited to make link live.)

Post Edited By Moderator (Lynnwood) : 8/28/2023 2:26:03 PM (GMT-8)

there is something very unusual going on with Alpha-gal syndrome - as the body is typically exposed to low levels of this compound whenever we eat meat - and our systems are normally tolerant to it.

even if a tick or anything else injected some into our skin 1 time - we would typically have a localised reaction to it - not a lifelong allergy - so its odd that this is what happens with alpha-gal from tick bites

i don't think anyone knows why this happens or what the underlying mechanism is

A friend of a relative in Virginia or N Carolina (I forgot) came down with Alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy) four years ago. Her hubby is a Dr who just then first heard of it.

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It has been slowly moving to the North Central US. Many cases in (Edit) : the "bible belt states" , then Missouri, skipping Iowa and appearing further in Upper Wisconsin and Minnesota (it was just on the TV news).

CDC Map of cases, scroll down a ways in link: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm?s_cid=mm7230a2_w

The above # of cases in that CDC link, is not surprisingly wrong (low).

A pasted quote I googled: "Between 2010 and 2022, the CDC said more than 110,000 suspected cases of alpha-gal syndrome were identified, but because a diagnosis requires specific tests and exams – and not everyone gets tested – it's estimated that as many as 450,000 people could have been affected in that time.
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As far as Drs not knowing any tick infection diagnostics (and North Central US is now "tick central" lol), I know someone just diagnosed by a dermatologist after the family Dr / PCP blew off the symptoms. At least the Derm Dr had their act together.!!

Post Edited (astroman) : 8/29/2023 9:38:46 AM (GMT-8)

running wild said...
Reading more articles on this tick allergy, one states that “half of doctors don’t know about it”

It seems that’s not surprising, especially on this forum, as we know doctors seem to still not grasp the overall picture of the repercussions of tick bites or how to treat them.

Also, this article was a perfect chance to mention the other dangers tick bite brings but doesn’t. I can’t understand why, after 40+ years, so little focus is put on the weakness of the medical field when it comes to ticks, Lyme Disease and the weakness in testing by the Western Blot or Elisa.

The cardiologist I saw two years ago had nothing really to say about my chronic tick borne illness (not that I was expecting him to say anything worthwhile), but, he was surprisingly receptive and compassionate about my situation. I came to find out that he had Alpha-Gal allergy. He said he went to the ER twice after eating red meat before they figured out what was happening.