What is alpha-gal syndrome and how is it contracted?

Alpha-gal syndrome is a potentially severe allergy to red meat, triggered by the bite of certain ticks, most commonly the Lone Star tick.

Can a tick bite cause a red meat allergy in humans?

Yes, a tick bite can cause alpha-gal syndrome, leading to a sudden and severe allergy to red meat.

What are the symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome after eating red meat?

Symptoms include severe stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and in rare cases, anaphylaxis.

Home / Health / Tick Bite Allergy Kills Pilot After Burger

Tick Bite Allergy Kills Pilot After Burger

20 Nov

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Summary

Pilot died suddenly after eating a barbecue burger.
Rare alpha-gal syndrome caused by tick bite killed him.
Allergy triggered a severe reaction to red meat.

Tick Bite Allergy Kills Pilot After Burger

A 47-year-old JetBlue pilot, Brian Waitzel, experienced a sudden and unexplained death in September 2024. His family's year-long search for answers concluded with the discovery of a rare alpha-gal syndrome, a deadly allergy to red meat triggered by a tick bite.

Waitzel fell violently ill hours after eating a hamburger at a barbecue in Wall Township, New Jersey. Despite his son's CPR efforts and paramedics' two-hour resuscitation attempt, he was pronounced dead that evening. Initially, his death baffled his family due to his excellent health.

Further investigation revealed a pattern: prior severe illness followed red meat consumption. A previous episode of intense abdominal pain after eating steak, dismissed as food poisoning, now appears linked to the syndrome. Researchers noted an increase in Lone Star tick exposure and urged greater awareness of alpha-gal, a condition many physicians are reportedly unaware of.

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