“The warming temperatures have led to an increase of reports of the lone star tick in Minnesota. It’s a species that is traditionally found in the southern United States, and can give people an allergy to red meat.”
“The warming temperatures have led to an increase of reports of the lone star tick in Minnesota. It’s a species that is traditionally found in the southern United States, and can give people an allergy to red meat.”
The news always calls it a red meat allergy, but the alpha-gal carbohydrate is found in almost all mammals, so no pork or dairy either. Although primates (including humans) are still on the menu. Maybe dolphins and whales, too? I forget. Maybe there’ll be a market in the near future for hypoallergenic whale cheese?
My wife’s cousin’s husband got bitten by one of those ticks in Kansas a couple years ago. It’s no joke. He gets a reaction from beef, pork, dairy, and gluten. He eats a lot of chicken and fish, and has to be very careful eating out. He carries an epipen when he goes out. The doctors told him it typically goes away after 6-12 months, but he’s going on three years now.