Good Morning!

A couple of weeks ago I finally got in to see an allergist regarding some pretty severe hives [periodic skin rash and blistering—a immune system reaction]. I was pretty negative for almost all the 40 + things she checked for—except for Alpha Gal. This is a carbohydrate contained in red meat. Primarily beef. It would come on around 10:00 in the evening. As the allergist explained, most food allergies like those related to peanuts etc will show up right after eating. Some, like this, have to be broken down by the body first—so show up 2-4 hrs after eating that food. 

Looking up the allergy online, it seems it is connected to tick bites—{???] and specifically the Lone Star tick. Now we don’t have those in MN, although I do recall being bit in Colorado some years ago. But, my daughter Kirsti who is a reporter for MPR recalled an article they had some time ago, which covered some who had the allergy in Northern MN. And the online info indicated that an “unnamed” tick might be responsible in the North Central states.

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/01/12/tick-triggered-meat-allergy-northern-minnesota

So along with Lymes and 2 or 3 other related diseases caused by bites from the deer tick or as they prefer to call it: the Black Legged Tick, there is a newer problem. 

Lymes will cause some severe fever/chills and general illness and unless treated, can cause some long-term health problems. This Alpha Gal allergy can also cause some severe issues—they issued me an epipen. 

Now most of the 1000+ tick bites I have probably had in a lifetime of outdoor activities have been from the brown or dog tick..common in June in our area. The deer ticks are also out then—much smaller and very hard to check for. And, deer ticks are also back around in the fall..so be careful if you have been out and about!! 

And if you experience the fever/chills, get checked asap for Lymes or the other more common problems; and if, perchance, you get an allergic reaction when eating animal meat—see an allergist. Fish and poultry apparently do not contain the alpha gal sugar.
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon