Maine Letter Warns Alpha-Gal Allergy Can Trigger Reactions Beyond Red Meat, Remains Incurable
Updated
Updated · Bangor Daily News · Jun 15
Maine Letter Warns Alpha-Gal Allergy Can Trigger Reactions Beyond Red Meat, Remains Incurable
1 articles · Updated · Bangor Daily News · Jun 15
Summary
Sue Shaw warned Maine readers that alpha-gal syndrome is a life-changing, incurable tick-borne allergy already reported in the state, not just a sensitivity to red meat.
Her account says the condition can trigger reactions to nearly anything derived from mammals, including shampoo, hand lotion, cosmetics and gelatin-based medication capsules.
Shaw cited her niece in Indiana, who reacted even while sorting old photographs because of a mammal-based coating, to show how hard the allergy can be to avoid.
The warning follows a June 11 Bangor Daily News letter saying alpha-gal is in Maine; Shaw said ticks once concentrated in the South are moving north with climate change.