Alpha gal syndrome (AGS) – Important Points

• Alpha gal syndrome (AGS) is not a disease, but an allergic reaction triggered by a tick bite.
• In the US, most cases are caused by lone star ticks, who have a molecule called alpha galactose in their saliva (spit). It enters a person’s blood while the tick is feeding.
• Some people who are bitten by lone star ticks later develop an allergy to foods containing alpha galactose, like red meat and dairy.
• Not everyone who is bitten will develop the allergy, and it is unclear why some people develop it and not others.
• It can take weeks to months AFTER a tick bite to start showing symptoms of AGS.
  
  

If you have been bitten by a lone star tick but have no AGS symptoms, there is currently no recommendation to avoid meat products as a precaution. However, you should: 

• Monitor for allergy symptoms (including hives, itching, nausea, difficulty breathing) beginning 2-6 hours after consuming red meat or dairy.
• Continue to avoid tick bites.
• If you develop symptoms of AGS, visit a healthcare provider. If the symptoms are severe or life-threatening, seek emergency care.
  
  

For more information, visit:

 Alpha-gal Syndrome (CDC)

Alpha-gal brochure (NJ Department of Health)