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A New Jersey man’s death is the first known to be linked to a tick-borne meat allergy, according to researchers at UVAHealth in Virginia.

The unidentified man, 47, reportedly died last summer, four hours after eating a hamburger and just two weeks after a similar episode triggered by steak.

With the summer episode, the man experienced severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting after eating the steak, a UVAHealth press release said.

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The incident was initially reported as “sudden unexplained death” until Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills of UVA Health determined the man suffered a fatal allergic reaction.

The findings were published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

The allergy, alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) — also known as “red-meat allergy” or the “tick bite meat allergy” — is caused by the bite of the Lone Star tick, which is found primarily in Southeastern and Eastern states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The tick’s saliva contains a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, which is injected into the body with the bite. This triggers allergies to certain types of red meat (primarily pork, beef, rabbit, lamb or venison) or products made from mammals (including cheese, milk, other dairy products and gelatin).

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When people eat any foods containing the allergens, they can experience serious allergy symptoms within a few hours, although some may only have mild reactions.

Symptoms may include rash, nausea and vomiting after eating beef, pork or lamb, according to researchers. Some may also experience itchy or scaly skin; swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat; and wheezing or shortness of breath, according to Mayo Clinic.

Although fatal anaphylaxis has been noted as a rare risk in severe cases, the New Jersey man’s death was the first to be attributed to the allergy.

Other factors that may have contributed to his severe reaction, according to Platts-Mills, include a beer he drank with his burger, his exposure to ragweed pollen and recent exercise.

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“The important information for the public is: First, that severe abdominal pain occurring three to five hours after eating beef, pork or lamb should be investigated as a possible episode of anaphylaxis; and, second, that tick bites that itch for more than a week or larvae of ticks often called ‘chiggers’ can induce or increase sensitization to mammalian-derived meat,” Platts-Mills, former chief of UVA Health’s Division of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, said in the release.

“On the other hand, most individuals who have mild to moderate episodes of hives can control symptoms with an appropriate diet.”

A diagnosis of AGS requires antibody testing and a clinical exam. Many patients face a long road to diagnosis — an average of seven years, according to Dr. Johanna Salzer, CDC epidemiologist and author of a 2023 report on AGS.

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“And to get diagnosed, they have to have access to an allergist,” Salzer previously told Fox News Digital. “For many people, there are barriers to get that level of treatment.”

When someone is diagnosed with AGS, the person may have it for a lifetime.

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“However, for some people, if they remove the foods from their diet that can reactivate alpha-gal syndrome, over time, their antibody levels may drop,” the expert said.

There is no treatment or cure for AGS, though physicians can help patients manage their symptoms.

“There are a number of things [that] healthcare providers can provide to alleviate symptoms depending on the patients’ individual reactions,” Salzer said.

“Those with more severe reactions are administered EpiPens in case they go into anaphylactic shock.”

Prevention tips

To protect against tick bites, Salzer recommends applying EPA-approved insect repellent, those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone, whenever going into an area where tick bites are a possibility.

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Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks and avoiding grassy, brushy and wooded areas can also help to prevent bites.

“When returning from an area that is known to have ticks, be sure to shower and do a very thorough check,” Salzer advised.

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Platts-Mills urged doctors and patients who live in areas where Lone Star ticks are common to be aware of the risk. 

“More specifically, if they have unexpected episodes of severe abdominal pain occurring several hours after eating mammalian meat, they should be investigated for possible sensitization to the oligosaccharide alpha-gal,” he added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

Texas health officials are sounding the alarm on a surge of a common childhood illness.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DHSH) revealed this week that there are nearly four times the number of whooping cough cases in the state compared to this time last year.

According to provisional data, Texas has had over 3,500 cases of whooping cough, also called pertussis, through October 2025. 

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This is the second year in a row the state has reported high increases in cases and the second year in a row a health alert has been issued, according to DHSH.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

It begins like a common cold, with a runny nose, sneezing and mild cough, but over time progresses to intense coughing fits that may end in a high-pitched “whoop” as the person gasps for air.

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The illness typically goes through three stages: cold-like symptoms, violent coughs and then gradual recovery, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

While anyone can get whooping cough, complications are most severe in babies 12 months and under. Infants are more likely to be hospitalized and face even greater risk if they are immunocompromised or not vaccinated.

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In babies, the symptoms may not include the classic “whoop” sound. Instead, they may struggle to breathe or pause in breathing, the Cleveland Clinic says.

Teenagers and adults can also catch it, often because vaccine protection has faded. They typically experience milder symptoms.

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The CDC recommends pertussis vaccinations for all ages, and Texas health leaders stress that everyone should stay up to date to prevent fading immunity.

Pregnant women are advised to receive a Tdap shot during each pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks, to help protect newborns, while adults in close contact with infants should also be vaccinated at least two weeks before exposure, health officials say.

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Clinicians are encouraged to test anyone showing symptoms consistent with pertussis, though treatment can begin based on “strong clinical suspicion” or exposure. PCR tests are preferred because they are quick and widely available.

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Early treatment — regardless of vaccination history — is key to preventing severe illness and stopping spread, officials say.