First Fatal Alpha-Gal Syndrome Case in NJ Pilot

A 47-year-old airline pilot from New Jersey died in the summer of 2024 from the first documented case of fatal alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy triggered by bites from the Lone Star tick, according to researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

The man, who had no significant prior medical history, experienced severe symptoms twice after consuming beef, researchers reported in a case study published this week in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. During a family camping trip earlier that summer, he ate steak as part of a late dinner. Approximately four hours later, around 2 a.m., he awoke with intense abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The episode lasted several hours, during which he told his wife he feared he was dying. By morning, he had recovered enough to eat breakfast and complete an eight-kilometer hike. The couple considered seeking medical attention but ultimately did not, unsure how to describe the sudden illness.

Two weeks later, at a backyard barbecue in New Jersey, the man ate a hamburger around 3 p.m. He then mowed the lawn for about an hour and consumed a beer. Around 7:20 p.m., after his wife left the house,...