How ticks can cause a meat and dairy allergy called alpha-gal syndrome that can kill (opens in new tab)

It is common knowledge that ticks can spread infections that cause serious illnesses, including Lyme disease. Now health officials are trying to raise awareness of a lesser-known problem: a life-threatening allergy to meat triggered by tick bites. The problem, known as alpha-gal syndrome, was first linked to a particular species of tick about 15 years ago. But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhoea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of me...