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The death of a 47-year-old airline pilot, which occurred in the summer of 2024, was the result of an allergic reaction to mammalian meat. The first signs of allergy appeared in the man after he spent a day outdoors and had a beef steak for dinner. That night, he felt unwell, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. In the morning, his condition improved, and he did not seek medical help.
Two weeks later, while at home in New Jersey, the man ate a hamburger and again experienced similar symptoms. Despite the attempts of his relatives and medical personnel to revive him, he passed away a few hours later.
Forensic experts, after conducting an autopsy, concluded that the cause of death remained "sudden and unexplained." The deceased's wife decided to investigate the circumstances of his death and sought advice from her friend, Dr. Erin McFeely. She contacted a research team from the University of Virginia, which took blood samples from the deceased for analysis.
As a result of the research, scientists determined that the man had developed alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat caused by tick bites. In the summer of 2024, he had recorded 12-13 bites from "chiggers" — larvae of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), known for its allergenic effects on humans.
