Ticks
A 47-year-old man from New Jersey died hours after eating beef, in what University of Virginia researchers say is the first confirmed death from alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-associated allergy to red meat. Post-mortem testing at UVA Health revealed severe sensitization to the sugar alpha-gal, implicating a fatal anaphylactic reaction. The condition, associated with bites from Lone Star ticks, can trigger delayed allergic responses to mammalian meats such as beef, pork and lamb.
Reported by AI
Researchers at the University of Illinois have mapped areas in the state where ticks carrying Lyme disease are most prevalent. The study, based on data from 2005 to 2016, highlights northern regions as key risk zones. This information aims to inform public health strategies to prevent tick-borne illnesses.