Why are Alpha-Gal cases increasing in Oklahoma? What to know about the tick-caused allergy

While Oklahomans are used to ticks and other creepy crawlies that come with spending time outdoors, public health officials warn you shouldn't skip the bug spray.

Ticks, parasitic arachnids that feed on the blood of animals and humans, are known for their tendency to spread diseases. While most people are concerned about Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an allergic reaction linked to tick bites is on the rise in Oklahoma and other states.

Here's everything you need to know about alpha-gal syndrome, including symptoms and why Oklahoma is seeing more cases than other areas of the country.

What is alpha-gal syndrome?

To understand Alpha-gal syndrome, you first must understand what Alpha-gal is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals, but not in people. It is also not found in fish, reptiles or birds.

The molecule is also found in the meat (pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, venison, etc.) and products made from mammals, like gelatin, cow's milk, and milk products.

Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergic condition — also known as alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy — associated with a bite from a lone star tick. Serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other products containing the alpha-gal molecule, the CDC said.

Alpha-gal syndrome symptoms

Symptoms can vary from person to person, ranging from mild to severe to life-threatening, the CDC said.

In a person with alpha-gal syndrome, symptoms typically appear two to six hours after eating or being exposed to the molecule, and can include:

• Hives or itchy rash

• Nausea or vomiting

• Heartburn or indigestion

• Diarrhea

• Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing

• Drop in blood pressure

• Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eye lids

• Dizziness or faintness

• Severe stomach pain

What tick spreads alpha-gal syndrome?

In the United States, evidence points to most alpha-gal cases stemming from the bite of the lone star tick, but other ticks have not been ruled out.

Other ticks have been associated with alpha-gal syndrome in other countries, the CDC said. Research is still needed to understand the role ticks play in passing along the condition, and why some people develop alpha-gal syndrome and others don't.

Why are more Oklahomans getting alpha-gal syndrome?

A study released by the CDC in 2023 revealed that Oklahoma has some of the highest rates of alpha-gal syndrome in the country, specifically northeast Oklahoma.

"The highest prevalences of suspected cases were found throughout a nearly contiguous region of the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic United States," the CDC said, "particularly parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware."

The areas where alpha-gal syndrome was most prevalent largely aligned with areas where the lone star tick is known to be established or reported.

Between 2017 and 2021, the number of positive test results for alpha-gal syndrome increased annually, according to the CDC study.

How is alpha-gal syndrome treated?

There is no direct treatment for alpha-gal syndrome other than avoiding foods that set off an allergic reaction, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension Office.

If you have alpha-gal syndrome and experience serious anaphylactic reactions, you should carry an EpiPen.

Does alpha-gal syndrome last forever?

While many people experience the allergic reaction for years, alpha-gal syndrome can eventually fade, the OSU Extension Office said.

However, the reaction can be re-activated if the person is re-exposed to tick bites.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What is Alpha-Gal syndrome? Why are cases increasing in Oklahoma?