Alpha-gal: nasty disease spread by ticks in North America

[J@son]

Saw this story on the Beeb and thought others might be interested:

The rate of Americans developing a rare meat allergy from tick bites is rising, researchers say, and may have already impacted as many as 450,000 people.

...all on the other side of The Pond. For now.

 

[25 Sharps]

Has been covered on here before a year or so ago, doesn't look a whole lot of fun!

Permethrin and deet for me!

 

[John Gryphon]

Permethrin and deet for me!

Aussie bush for me, leeches are about in some places but don`t have Lyme etc.

 

[25 Sharps]

Aussie bush for me, leeches are about in some places but don`t have Lyme etc.

Ticks have never really been a problem in my ground, until this year, pulled 20 off of my trousers and one off of my ankle at the start of the buck season.

 

[wytonpjs]

Saw this story on the Beeb and thought others might be interested:

The rate of Americans developing a rare meat allergy from tick bites is rising, researchers say, and may have already impacted as many as 450,000 people.

...all on the other side of The Pond. For now.

Alpha-gal Allergy/Syndrome

I recently saw a post up on UK Deer Stalking forum of another tick-borne infection with dramatic consequences. Like Lyme Disease, it appears that it has taken some time for this new disease to be recognised and classified. Whilst this sounds potentially like an April Fool's joke and...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Well worth reminding people

 

[John Gryphon]

Ticks have never really been a problem in my ground, until this year, pulled 20 off of my trousers and one off of my ankle at the start of the buck season.

There are ticks and ticks here also. A rarity in my area and haven't seen one in years. However there are some mean ones in other areas.

Paralysis ticks

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

 

[Hayduke]

Saw this story on the Beeb and thought others might be interested:

The rate of Americans developing a rare meat allergy from tick bites is rising, researchers say, and may have already impacted as many as 450,000 people.

...all on the other side of The Pond. For now.

Alpha-gal occurs our side of the Pond too, it is not a common disease, it is under-recorded and it is being recorded increasingly in the UK. Similar situation with increasing numbers in other European countries and Australia.

Usually the result of large a number of tick bites over a period of time, it is not know why some are affected and many are not.

I have lived with it for a few years, I had my first (and only) anaphylaxis in 2006, and now carry an epipen. Antihistamines work well in controlling it, and it does seem to lessen in time (unlike nut and some other allergies).

 

[deerstalker.308]

Yep, as above here too. Can’t remember what/who I was watching on an interview but someone had contracted in and been diagnosed in east anglia following a tick bit which was otherwise inconsequential, totally allergic to red meats now.

 

[sauer]

Can think of nothing worse

What is the tick-borne disease alpha-gal and why does it cause an allergy to meat?

More cases of alpha-gal are being reported in the UK. It can cause anaphylaxis in sufferers when they eat mammal meat such as beef, pork or lamb.

news.sky.com

 

[the_greenman]

Man left housebound by potentially deadly meat allergy triggered by tick bites

Now in Surrey apparently