Turns out, ticks are even more disgusting than we already thought. One specific type, the "Lone Star Tick" has been causing problems for meat lovers across many parts of the United States. Apparently, the ticks carry a form of sugar ("alpha-gal") that humans can tolerate when eaten in beef, pork, venison, and rabbit, but if bitten by a tick, the sugar enters the bloodstream, and that's when problems happen. The next time meat is eaten, it can trigger an anaphylactic response. Most allergies are caused by proteins, but this one is caused by a carbohydrate, confusing scientists even more.
What's even scarier for people is that these reactions can occur many hours after consumption. In an article on HuffPo, Louise Danzig retells her experience hours after eating a burger: "I woke up with very swollen hands that were on fire with itching," she said. As she headed downstairs, "I could feel my lips and tongue were getting swollen." And by the time she made a phone call for help, "I was losing my ability to speak and my airway was closing." She'd had recent tick bites, and a blood test confirmed the meat allergy.
Currently, doctors aren't sure if the allergy is long-lasting, or if the body can recover from it. How totally scary is that?
One more reason to avoid camping, as far as I'm concerned.
Allergic to technology? Maybe! How about to winter? It's totally possible!
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