Emerging Epidemic

Alpha-gal syndrome: a growing public health crisis

Tick-induced mammalian meat allergy (MMA) has increased exponentially on all six continents this century.

Duong K, Boettiger D, Ratchford A, van Nunen S.

2009 known cases

2017 estimated cases

2018 estimated cases

2022 estimated cases

A growing public health crisis

The CDC has identified alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) as a growing clinical and public health threat.⁸
As lone star tick populations grow and their range expands, the number of alpha-gal syndrome cases grows, too.^8,12
According to the CDC, the number of new suspected cases of AGS is increasing by more than 15,000 a year.⁸

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Key statistics

450,000 Americans

Up to 450,000 Americans have alpha-gal syndrome.⁸

10th most common food allergen

Alpha-gal syndrome is the 10th most common food allergen in the U.S.⁹

60-75% experience anaphylaxis

60-75% of people with AGS have anaphylactic reactions.^1,2,3,133

Over 10 deaths

There are more than 10 confirmed deaths due to alpha-gal reactions to medical products alone.⁵

Geographic distribution of AGS in the U.S.

The estimated 450,000 cases of alpha-gal syndrome in the U.S. are NOT spread evenly over the whole country.⁸ They are concentrated in the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic United States.

Up to 3% or more of the population in the hardest-hit areas may be affected.^8,^13,14,15,18

CDC report on the geographic distribution of AGS

Key statistics for

high prevalence regions

#1 tick-borne condition

Alpha-gal syndrome makes up the bulk of the tick-borne disease in states where lone star ticks are common.

Source: state health department statistics &CDC surveillance data

Up to 3% affected

Up to 3% or more of some populations are affected.^13,14,15

Significant cause of adult-onset allergy

Alpha-gal syndrome can be the number one cause of adult-onset allergy in high-prevalence areas.¹⁶

Significant cause of anaphylaxis

In one study of people aged 9 and older in a high-prevalence area, AGS accounted for a third of all cases of anaphylaxis, more than all other food allergies combined.¹⁷

Courtesy of Alpha-gal Information, an Alpha-gal Alliance project

Lack of physician awareness

In a 2023 nationwide survey, the CDC found that 42% of providers were not aware of AGS, and another 35% were not confident in their ability to diagnose or manage AGS patients.

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