According to NBC News, the circumstances of his death remained unclear for a long time, as examinations showed no signs of a heart attack or other serious illnesses.
Two weeks before the tragedy, he felt unwell after eating a steak. That night, he suffered from severe diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Later, he told one of his sons that he felt very ill and believed he might die. However, neither he nor his wife suspected that it could be related to food consumption, so they did not seek medical attention.
Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, an allergist from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, who diagnosed the man's condition and discovered the alpha-gal syndrome, noted: "The tragedy is that the family did not perceive this case as anaphylaxis and did not connect it to beef."
"The level of antibodies he had is usually seen only in anaphylactic shock with a fatal outcome," added Platts-Mills. "His level reached 2000, whereas in surviving patients, it typically does not exceed 100."A blood test showed the presence of antibodies to the alpha-gal sugar, indicating a meat allergy transmitted through tick bites. Alpha-gal is found in the blood of various animals, including cows, deer, and pigs, and can enter the human body through tick saliva.
People bitten by ticks can develop alpha-gal syndrome, which manifests as allergic reactions to red meat. Symptoms of the condition may include nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, hives, and difficulty breathing. In most cases in the U.S., this is associated with meadow ticks that inhabit the Northeast, South, and Midwest of the country.
Dr. Scott Commins, an allergy specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted that physical activity and alcohol consumption are risk factors for severe allergic reactions, as they can enhance the absorption of allergens. On the day of his death, the pilot was exercising and drinking beer.
"Fatalities from food allergies are rare, and they are usually observed in people with asthma or other conditions. Therefore, several factors need to be present," Commins noted.The timing of the tick bite also matters: according to Commins, a recent bite can intensify the allergic reaction to alpha-gal, but the allergy does not always remain constant even after it develops.
