Red Meat Allergies Developing From Tick Bites

BARNSTABLE – New research indicates tick bites can bring on an allergy to red meat in adults.

A study published by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases found that bites from lone star ticks, which are found in the eastern united states and on Cape Cod, can cause allergic reactions to alpha-gal, a type of sugar found in red meat.

According to ABC News, health officials know of over 5,000 tick-induced allergy cases in the United States.

Cape Cod has some of the highest instances of tick-borne illnesses in the United States.

This year has been active for ticks across Cape Cod and New England

In Connecticut, officials are warning of unusually high numbers of disease-carrying ticks, especially ones that carry Lyme disease.

Goudarz Molaei, director of the state Agricultural Experiment Station tick testing program, tells the Hartford Courant about 40 percent of the 2,600 ticks tested so far are carrying Lyme disease.

Molaei said Monday that is a 10 percent increase over results from the past five years.

A spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Public Health says June and July are peak months for Lyme disease, and about 2,022 cases were reported in Connecticut last year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 300,000 people a year are infected with Lyme disease nationwide.

Content from the Associated Press was used in this report.

About CapeCod.com NewsCenter

The award-winning CapeCod.com NewsCenter provides the Cape Cod community with a constant, credible source for local news. We are on the job seven days a week.



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy