Overview

• Alpha-gal syndrome causes allergic reactions hours after exposure to red meat or other mammal-derived products, ranging from hives to anaphylaxis, according to Mayo Clinic guidance.
• Confirmed positives at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital jumped from 2 in 2020 to 523 in 2024, and emergency visits for tick bites have increased since early summer, local officials report.
• Restaurants and food vendors on Martha’s Vineyard say more customers now seek dairy-free and meat-free options, with some patients avoiding dining out due to cross-contact concerns.
• The CDC logged more than 110,000 suspected U.S. cases from 2010 to 2022 and estimates the true total could be several times higher as lone star ticks expand into New England, Long Island and Maine.
• There is no cure; experts advise strict avoidance of mammalian foods and preparedness with epinephrine, while some patients pursue experimental treatments reported anecdotally and not yet validated.