Posted on 08/18/2014 7:41:22 PM PDT by blam
Loren Grush, Popular Science
August 18, 2014
The Lone Star tick.
Mike Abley will always remember the last hamburger he ever ate. It was more than 20 years ago, and he recalls the meat being particularly juicy and delicious.
But a few hours after dinner, Abley started itching like mad. He burst into hives, his tongue swelled, and he eventually passed out, prompting his wife to call 911. At the hospital, doctors determined he had gone into anaphylactic shock—a potentially deadly allergic reaction.
Fortunately, Abley pulled through, and he later met with an allergist to determine what had caused the terrifying episode. A series of tests revealed something strange: The hamburger had triggered the reaction. And it wasn’t just the beef he was allergic to; it was practically all red meat.
“I’ve always said I think it’s karma,” says Abley, now 73, a lifetime resident of Virginia. “My family have been cattle ranchers for generations.”
Abley is one of at least 1,500 people in the United States who suffer allergic reactions after eating meat, and doctors interviewed by Popular Science believe such cases are on the rise. But what’s even more bizarre is the source of the allergy. The condition, called alpha-gal allergy, is caused by the bite of a Lone Star tick—a species traditionally found mostly in the Southern United States but has spread farther north in recent years.
And as the tick spreads, more and more cases of meat allergies are being reported. In one area of Long Island, New York, for example, one doctor we spoke with has seen and increase of 200 cases in the past three years—up from practically zero in 2011.
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(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
No more endocannibalism for me!
No, like the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Global warming for sure.
Perfect for over the fireplace.
Wow. I have read all of you guy’s comments, but I am confused. Is it Friday night?
LOL
What about bacon?
My cousin told my grandmother about a new gluten free diet. She said that’s nice dear. Back in Ireland my mother had to eat her leather belts to keep from starving.
I would be really sick for those months - dead cow is my favorite repast.
Same here, just short of 8 yrs old, amazing dog super smart.
We had the Lone Star ticks when I was a kid. I remember using a needle, heat the point and stick it into the backs. They would back out faster than you can imagine.
I’ve had three Labs through the years; will most likely have a few more. This death was a tough one; made me so mad!
Thank you.
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