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More than 110,000 suspected alpha-gal syndrome cases were identified in the United States from 2010 through 2022, according to the CDC; the true number is unknown. The CDC says as many as 450,000 people may be affected, not millions of confirmed cases. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), sometimes called a red-meat allergy, can follow a tick bite—most often from a lone star tick in the United States—and may cause delayed, potentially severe allergic reactions to certain mammal-derived foods or products.
What the U.S. case numbers do—and do not—show
Different figures about AGS measure different things. Suspected cases, positive blood tests, estimates of people who may be affected, and antibodies in a small sample are not interchangeable. In particular, the 2026 antibody survey does not show that millions of Americans have the clinical syndrome.
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| Figure | What it measures | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| More than 110,000 suspected cases, 2010–2022 | Suspected U.S. cases identified, as summarized by the CDC on its overview page updated January 5, 2026. | AGS is not nationally notifiable, and the CDC says the true national total is unknown. |
| As many as 450,000 people may be affected | The CDC’s estimate of the possible U.S. burden, reported on the same January 5, 2026 overview page. | This is an estimate, not a count of confirmed diagnoses. |
| 90,018 positive results among 295,400 people tested, 2017–2022 | A CDC MMWR analysis of people who received alpha-gal-specific testing. | It describes positive results in a tested group; it is not a population prevalence estimate or a count of clinically confirmed AGS cases. |
| Estimated 24.0% alpha-gal IgE seroprevalence in five states | A 2026 CDC estimate based on 3,000 residual blood-donor samples collected in 2024–2025 across 10 states; the five high-seroprevalence states were Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia. | Antibodies alone do not establish AGS. The CDC cautions that only a small minority of people with alpha-gal IgE seropositivity have the syndrome. |
These figures point to a real health concern and likely undercounting, but they do not support describing millions of people as diagnosed with a meat allergy.
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It can. Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals, but not in people. A tick bite can sensitize someone to alpha-gal, after which exposure may trigger an allergic reaction. In the United States, the lone star tick is most often associated with AGS. The CDC has also reported a few cases associated with blacklegged and western blacklegged tick bites; other tick species have been linked to AGS in other countries.
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Not every tick bite leads to the syndrome. Cases have been reported beyond the known range of the lone star tick, so that range should not be treated as a firm boundary. CDC analyses found suspected cases concentrated in parts of the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, particularly where lone star ticks are established.
Why the allergy can be hard to recognize
Unlike many food allergies, AGS reactions often start well after a meal. The CDC says symptoms commonly appear 2–6 hours after exposure. That delay can make it difficult to connect a reaction with something eaten earlier, especially when symptoms vary from one episode to another.
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In a 2023 CDC survey of 1,500 clinicians, nearly half had not heard of AGS, about one-third were not confident diagnosing or managing it, and 5% felt very confident. Those results describe the surveyed clinicians; they are not a count of patients. They do help explain why people with compatible symptoms may not immediately recognize the possible connection.
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Symptoms vary and can include:
- Hives or an itchy rash, swelling, dizziness, or faintness
- Nausea, vomiting, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, or severe stomach pain
- Cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or low blood pressure
A person may not react to every item containing alpha-gal, and reactions do not necessarily look the same each time. Severe symptoms require urgent medical care.
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Which foods and products may contain alpha-gal?
Potential sources include mammalian meats such as beef, pork, lamb, venison, and rabbit. Alpha-gal may also be present in dairy products, gelatin made from beef or pork, mammal fats such as lard or tallow, broths, and some medicines or vaccines. Many people with AGS tolerate dairy, and individual reactions vary.
Poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, fruits, and vegetables do not contain alpha-gal, according to the CDC’s food guidance. Do not assume that every product in a category will cause a reaction—or that a medicine or vaccine should be stopped. Discuss food exclusions and medication or vaccine questions with a healthcare provider.
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How is alpha-gal syndrome diagnosed?
Diagnosis combines a detailed history, a physical examination, and a blood test for alpha-gal-specific IgE; a clinician may also use skin testing. The history matters: a clinician considers symptoms, their delayed timing, and possible tick-bite or outdoor exposure alongside test results.
A positive alpha-gal IgE test by itself does not mean a person has AGS. Some people have detectable antibodies without the clinical syndrome, particularly in areas where lone star ticks are common. The CDC’s surveillance case definition is for tracking cases; it is not a substitute for an individual clinical diagnosis.
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How can you lower the risk of tick bites?
The CDC says preventing tick bites is the best way to protect against developing AGS. These steps lower tick exposure; they do not treat an established allergy.
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent. CDC-listed active ingredients include DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), and 2-undecanone. Follow the product label; CDC says not to use OLE or PMD products on children under 3.
- Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, following the product label. Permethrin for clothing and gear is not the same as a skin repellent.
- Avoid brushy or wooded areas with high grass and leaf litter when possible.
- After time outdoors, check your body, clothing, gear, and pets for ticks.
What should someone diagnosed with AGS do?
CDC guidance describes avoiding foods and products that contain alpha-gal, preventing future tick bites, and seeking urgent care for severe reactions. The specific foods and products to avoid can differ between people, so work with a healthcare provider on a plan rather than assuming that every possible source must be excluded. There is no vaccine to prevent AGS.
Is a new antibody treatment available?
No. In 2026, NIH reported laboratory findings involving rare antibodies that blocked patient IgE from binding to certain allergens or interfered with basophil activation. The work is an early step toward possible interventions, not an approved or available treatment for AGS.
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