Kentucky’s Alarming Tick Bite Allergy: Are You At Risk?

I didn't know what Alpha-gal syndrome was until a friend of mine got it and started dropping, almost immediately, alarming amounts of weight. I think at one point, he lad lost nearly 80 pounds. He couldn't stand the taste or smell of red meat. While I didn't really know all that much about Alpha-gal, I learned from his experience that I didn't want to be anywhere near it.

WHAT IS ALPHA-GAL SYNDROME?

Simply put, Alpha-gal is a red meat allergy that is caused by a bite from a Lone Star tick. That bite transfers a sugar molecule (called alpha-gal) into the bloodstream of the bite victim.

By the way, most mammals already have alpha-gal. However, humans don't and some of them have potentially life-threatening reactions to it.

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WHAT STATES ARE MOST AT-RISK FOR ALPHA-GAL DISEASE?

The bad news? The highest concentration of reported cases are located in the Midwest. A 2024 analysis of CDC data by USA Today surveyed cases documented between January of 2017 and December of 2022. According to that data, Kentucky and Indiana are right in the thick of infections.

The frequency of Alpha-gal Syndrome has prompted the UK Cooperative Extension Office to host a statewide webinar event on Thursday, May 29th. Various topics will be covered: the basics of Alpha-gal Sydrome, tick bite prevention, and diet and lifestyle management. People who develop a red meat allergy often have to make substantial changes to what they eat. It can be challenging, irritating, and, well, nauseating. This is a great opportunity to learn about the syndrome and how to manage it if you contract it.

At the conclusion of the webinar, there will be a Q&A session for participants.

If you'd like to register for the webinar and watch it from home, you can sign up by CLICKING HERE! If you'd like to watch the webinar with a group, you can do so on the campus of Owensboro Community and Technical College. There's a public watch session scheduled inside Room 100 in the Technical Building on campus. You can call the Daviess County Cooperative Extension to reserve a seat. That number is 270-685-8480.

The 'Living with Alpha-gal Syndrome' webinar event is scheduled for 6pm to 7:30pm CDT, Thursday, May 29th.