Tick Bites Can Cause Deadly Meat Allergy – First Known Death in the World
The first documented death from tick-borne mammalian meat allergy (alpha-gal syndrome) has been recorded. Jeremy, a 17-year-old in Australia, died after eating a beef sausage, triggering anaphylaxis.
A Tragic Case Reveals a Dangerous Allergy
Looking back at her birthday party five years ago, Myfanwy Webb is filled with regret – she missed the chance to save her son's life. In June 2022, 17-year-old Jeremy died after eating a beef sausage during a camping trip at a beach north of Sydney. Initially recorded as asthma, a coroner ruled in February that the asthma attack and fatal anaphylaxis were triggered by tick-induced mammalian meat allergy (MMA), also known as alpha-gal syndrome. This is the first known death from MMA in the world.
Discovery and Prevalence
Professor Sheryl van Nunen discovered the link between MMA and ticks nearly 20 years ago after noticing a correlation in her Sydney allergy clinic. Australia's east coast, home to the eastern paralysis tick, is one of two global MMA hotspots, the other being the US. After two tick bites, 50% of people develop antibodies to alpha-gal, a sugar molecule in tick saliva. They then have a 15–20% chance of becoming allergic to meat.
Diagnosed cases of MMA have been rising steadily since 2007, with a 22% annual increase since 2020. However, experts believe the true number is higher, as many cases go undiagnosed.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms range from mild (rashes, swelling, stomach cramps) to severe (vomiting, anaphylaxis). Van Nunen describes it as an "anytime but not an every time allergy" – symptoms may not appear at all or can be exacerbated by factors like meat type, cooking method, alcohol, exercise after eating, or lack of sleep. Highly sensitive individuals may react to dairy products, cosmetics containing lanolin, or even plastic bags with stearic acid.
Daily Challenges
Living with MMA can be difficult. Elizabeth Rowley, a mother of three, spent years seeking a diagnosis before founding a Facebook support group. Remy Williams, a psychology student, says constant vigilance over food led to an eating disorder, and witnessing her mother's severe anaphylactic attacks on planes was traumatic.
Future Risks
Van Nunen's biggest concern is the 85% of people who have the allergy without knowing it – they have antibodies but do not react after eating meat. These individuals could still suffer anaphylaxis during medical treatments, as many drugs contain animal-derived products. At least two other deaths from MMA are known: an American airline pilot who died after eating a hamburger in 2024, and Jeremy's case.
Jeremy's Legacy
Webb is determined to raise awareness. She is working with the hospital that treated Jeremy to develop MMA training and co-authoring a paper with van Nunen for a conference later this year. "I think he'd be really pleased with us," she says.
