The following is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
New CDC reports show that alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tick bite-associated food allergy, is an emerging clinical and public health concern; however, many clinicians are unaware of the condition, how to diagnose it, and how to manage it
- Between 2017 and 2022, there were more than 90,000 suspected cases of AGS documented in the United States. However, because the diagnosis of AGS requires a diagnostic test and clinical exam, and some people may not get tested, it’s estimated that as many as 450,000 people may have been affected by AGS since 2010.
- A U.S. survey found that nearly half of clinicians have never heard of AGS; among those who had, fewer than one third knew how to diagnose it.
- More research on AGS, expanded tick surveillance, and increased education are needed to improve public health outreach and prevention and support clinician understanding of this emerging condition.
- Clinicians should talk to their patients about protecting themselves from tick bites and encourage them to use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents and check their bodies, clothing, and gear for ticks after spending time outdoors.
Read more here.
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