Pilot in the US became the first person in the world to die from meat allergy

In the United States, the first confirmed fatal case associated with a rare form of allergy that developed after a tick bite has been recorded. A 47-year-old pilot from New Jersey died in September 2024 after eating a regular hamburger. He was found unconscious in the bathroom, and autopsy results did not reveal an obvious cause of death.

As reported by BAKU.WS, this was announced by the medical journal Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

The investigation established that the man suffered from alpha-gal syndrome - an unusual allergy to sugar found in mammalian meat. This condition develops after a bite from a tick that had previously fed on the blood of cows, deer, or pigs. Tests conducted several months before the incident already showed the presence of antibodies to alpha-gal, however, the pilot did not realize how dangerous it was.

"We describe the first documented fatal case of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) that occurred after consuming meat," the publication states.

Doctors note that alpha-gal syndrome can cause severe reactions to meat products - from skin manifestations to breathing problems. The main carrier of the infection in the US is considered to be the Lone Star tick, which inhabits many states. Specialists warn that sensitivity to alpha-gal can develop gradually, so residents of endemic territories should carefully monitor their body's reactions after consuming meat products.

Alpha-gal was first described in 2009 and is most often associated with bites from the tick Amblyomma americanum. The disease manifests as a delayed allergic reaction to red meat and is most common in the eastern and south-central regions of the United States.