Tick-Borne Meat Allergy: Many Carry Alpha-Gal Antibodies Without Symptoms

WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Many more Americans than previously estimated carry antibodies related to a meat allergy caused by tick bites, a new study says.

Nearly 1 in 4 adults in states with the highest rates of alpha-gal syndrome carry antibodies related to the condition, researchers reported recently in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

These results indicate that tick bites won’t necessarily lead to the full-fledged allergic reaction characterized by alpha-gal syndrome, researchers said.

Symptoms from an alpha-gal allergic reaction can include hives, swelling, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea or even life-threatening anaphylactic shock, researchers said.