Meet the lone star tick: the primary U.S. source of alpha-gal syndrome, which is a life-threatening meat allergy that's on the rise | Fortune

Alpha-gal syndrome is a rising, allergy-driven condition linked to a sugar called alpha-gal found in most mammalian meat. The trigger is a bite from the lone star tick, which can inject alpha-gal into the bloodstream and prompt antibodies that react hours after consuming meat or dairy. The condition is most common in the eastern and southern United States but is expanding its range to places like the Great Lakes region and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Regulators have approved the first drug for the syndrome, with more therapies in development. Experts warn that other tick species may spread the allergy as awareness grows and the lone star tick expands its habitat.