gal syndrome impacting lives across the U.S.

Key Points:

• Erin March and her daughter Alexis Cottrell, both diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome, started a business creating alpha-gal friendly products due to the challenges of managing the allergy to red meat and animal products.
• Alpha-gal syndrome is a tick-borne illness caused by the alpha-gal molecule in tick saliva, which triggers an allergic reaction in humans who do not naturally have this molecule.
• The condition severely limits dietary and medicinal options, with patients often fearing exposure and facing difficulties finding safe medications, as highlighted by March’s experience as a nurse.
• Dr. James McDonald of the New York State Department of Health is working to raise awareness and establish a statewide database to track alpha-gal syndrome diagnoses, noting that many healthcare providers are unfamiliar with the condition.
• Advocacy efforts, including the Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act, aim to have alpha-gal officially recognized as a major food allergen to improve labeling and safety for affected individuals.