For two decades, a perplexing illness has been spreading: After a <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/tick-bite-red-meat-allergy?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lone-star tick bite</a>, people find themselves with a severe allergic reaction to red meat. The CDC estimates up to 450,000 people in the U.S. may be affected with alpha-gal syndrome, up from just a few dozen documented cases in 2009. New research finds that in some states, more than 30% of people are positive for alpha-gal antibodies—but not all of them have the syndrome.
Flora speaks with allergist Scott Commins, who has studied alpha-gal syndrome for nearly 20 years, to unpack this finding and next frontiers for treatment.
Guest:
Dr. Scott Commins is the William J. Yount Distinguished Professor of Medicine and associate chief for allergy and immunology at the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 
Other episodes you may enjoy:
<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/tick-vaccine?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instead Of A Vaccine For Lyme, How About A Vaccine For Ticks?</a></li>
 <li><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/lyme-disease-vaccine?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why Don’t We Have A Vaccine For Lyme Disease?</a></li>
</ul>
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/tick-bite-red-meat-allergy?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sciencefriday.com</a><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/parenting-tips-from-the-animal-kingdom/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">.</a>
<a href="https://pod.link/73329284" target="_blank">Subscribe to this podcast.</a> Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scifri/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@scifri" target="_blank">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scifri" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/scifri.bsky.social" target="_blank">Bluesky</a> @scifri and <a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri" target="_blank">sign up for our newsletters</a>. Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: <a href="tel:+18774724374">877-472-4374</a> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

How does a tick bite cause a red meat allergy?

Science Friday

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews