A burger is cooked the way you like.
Next, your body is in full revolt with hives, nausea and vomiting.
You think it’s the food. Could it be the bug bite you overlooked from earlier in the day?
It’s called alpha-gal syndrome, and health experts say it’s an emerging condition that is still not fully understood.
What is alpha-gal syndrome?
Alpha-gal is a type of sugar found in the tissues of most mammals, but not in humans or other primates. Normally, eating meat poses no problem for the human body. But a tick bite can change that. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites the Lone Star Tick is the main carrier, but blacklegged and western blacklegged ticks can develop the syndrome.
“People are putting the pieces together that tick bites can actually cause a food allergy in people,” said Mark VanderWerp, manager of education and training at Rose Pest Solutions.
According to VanderWerp, something happens after a tick bite that sensitizes the body to alpha-gal sugar which is the same sugar found in the meat people eat every day.
“When you go to eat a burger, a venison steak, a lamb gyro, you are exposing yourself to that alpha-gal sugar, which all these other mammals make, and once you become sensitized to that, that can be a serious issue, where you have major allergic symptoms,” VanderWerp said.
Those symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, hives and intense itching. In severe cases, the reaction can be life-threatening.
A mysterious delay
What makes alpha-gal syndrome especially difficult to diagnose is the timing of symptoms.
“The really mysterious thing is there’s often a big delay in onset,” VanderWerp said. “So, you may have eaten something, and you may not notice symptoms for two, four, six hours in some cases. So, that’s quite strange and again it makes it a little hard to diagnose that you have this.”
The Lone Start Tick is in Michigan, but it’s not the most common species.
“Other ticks, including the famous blacklegged tick, that is the Lyme disease tick, also produces this alpha-gal sugar in its saliva, and so that can also cause this disease, this syndrome as well.”
More than a meat allergy
The condition is sometimes called red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy, but VanderWerp said the impact goes beyond what’s on someone’s dinner plate.
“It’s not just food allergy, it’s anything that has that alpha-gal sugar in it,” he said. “So, this can be pharmaceuticals, this can vaccines. Other animal products, sometimes like beauty products, may contain animal products that would have that alpha-gal sugar.”
The CDC says there is currently no treatment or cure for alpha-gal syndrome.
The Mayo Clinic reports that some people carry the sensitization without ever experiencing symptoms, meaning they may not even know they have it.
“You could be positive for this alpha-gal sugar sensitization and still not be symptomatic,” VanderWerp said. “So, just because you’ve been bitten by a tick and you maybe have some sensitization to the sugar doesn’t mean that you’re gonna suffer at all symptomatically.”
Hundreds of thousands affected — and still off many radars
The syndrome is far more widespread than most people realize. According to VanderWerp, the condition affects an estimated half a million people in the United States — and was virtually unknown until about 20 years ago.
“It’s kind of fascinating that this disease that we think affects up to maybe half a million people in the U.S. was completely off anyone’s radar until about 20 years ago, and even now we’re still learning about it,” VanderWerp said.
Testing has become more accessible in recent years. Over-the-counter test kits are now available, though results typically take one to two weeks to return.
Michigan on watch
Alpha-gal syndrome is not a reportable disease in Michigan, meaning the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services does not track solid case numbers the way it does for other infectious diseases.
However, the department says it is concerned.
State health officials say the conditions are right for the Lone Star Tick population to continue growing in Michigan and with it, the risk of alpha-gal syndrome.
How to protect yourself
The best defense against alpha-gal syndrome — and all tick-borne illnesses — is avoiding tick bites altogether.
“If the tick doesn’t bite you, you’re in the clear,” VanderWerp said.
Ticks do not jump or fly. They climb tall grasses and brush, waving their legs as animals and people pass by, waiting to latch on. VanderWerp said being aware of tick habitats is the first line of defense.
“Right now, we are in tick habitat, and so what you’re looking for is kind of thick, overgrown, shrubbiness next to oftentimes more manicured or trail type features,” he said. “The reason ticks like these zones is they want traffic patterns where animals are going to pass.”
When heading outdoors, experts recommend tucking pants into socks or boots, wearing long sleeves and applying EPA-approved insect repellents. Products containing DEET are effective but require reapplication throughout the day. Clothing-based repellents offer longer protection and can remain active through multiple washes.
“There are a number of products that can repel ticks,” VanderWerp said. “DEET is obviously a famous one, and that’s very common to use for mosquitoes as well as ticks. That works well, but fairly short life.”
For those who prefer alternatives, VanderWerp noted that the EPA’s My Repellent Finder tool allows users to search for repellents based on activity, duration and personal preferences. The resource is available on the agency’s website.
Yard maintenance matters, too. Moving swing sets and fire pits away from the edges of yards — where manicured lawns meet wooded areas — can significantly reduce tick exposure close to home.
After spending time outdoors, the MDHHS recommends performing a full-body tick check, showering and tumble drying clothes on high heat for at least 10 minutes.
Residents who find a tick can email a photo to MDHHS-Bugs@michigan.gov for identification. Knowing the species can help a doctor determine the appropriate next steps.
Detroit residents take notice
For some Detroiters enjoying the outdoors along the riverfront, the threat is real — and personal.
“They’re scary to me. That’s why I have long pants on and I wish we didn’t have them,” said Joan Nagrant, a Detroit resident. “We have a dog too, so we have to be extra cautious with her.”
Kellie Mitchell, also of Detroit, said her approach is straightforward: “Watch out for them. Be a little bit more cautious.”
Virgil Simpson Jr. said he makes a point to stay away from areas where ticks thrive.
“I won’t even hang out in the woods out here. I just stay on my path,” Simpson said. When asked if he avoids wildlife altogether, his answer was simple: “No. I stay away from them.”