Overview
- A 47-year-old New Jersey man died in summer 2024 hours after eating a hamburger, following an earlier overnight illness after a late steak.
- The initial autopsy listed “sudden unexplained death,” but post-mortem blood revealed alpha-gal IgE and biochemical evidence consistent with fatal anaphylaxis.
- His reported “chigger” bites during a family camping trip were likely larvae of the Lone Star tick, which can trigger alpha-gal sensitization.
- Researchers say beer with the meal, recent exercise, or seasonal pollen exposure may have amplified the reaction.
- UVA urged testing when severe abdominal pain occurs 3–5 hours after eating red meat, noting Lone Star ticks range from the East Coast to central Texas, and detailed the case in JACI: In Practice with the widow’s permission.