Tick Bites Increase Alpha-Gal Syndrome  

West Virginia is seeing alpha-gal syndrome surge as lone star ticks spread across the state.  The tick-borne condition triggers various allergies to red meat, dairy and other products from mammals.  Madison Flory with the West Virginia Science and Technology Policy Initiative says there has been a marked increase in alpha-gal cases this year…

“As of August 27th, 93 confirmed or probable cases, whereas last year at about that same time, there was only 14.  There’s a higher rural population, so people might be spending more in the woods doing outdoor activities that might put them into higher proximity of these kind of ticks.”