Female ‘Lone Star’ tick
(CDC photo)
While ticks spread Lyme disease, there has been another consequence from them:
Tick-borne Alpha Gal Syndrome leaves some New Yorkers unable to eat red meat
July 9, 2026
Ticks are known for spreading Lyme disease and other infectious illnesses. But officials and patients with Alpha Gal Syndrome are warning of allergies that can be caused by tick bites.
Alpha Gal Syndrome is spread through the sugar in ticks saliva and causes an allergy to red meats and mammal related products, including milk, gelatin and even some ingredients in common lotions. …
New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in an interview with NEWS10 that the condition is becoming more common, especially on Long Island in Suffolk County. He says the disease can span from indigestion and heart burn from eating meat, all the way to anaphylactic shock.
“Alpha Gal Syndrome is not an infection, it’s an allergy,” said McDonald. …
The best protection against Alpha Gal syndrome and other tick-borne illnesses is wearing full coverage colorful clothing, and using insect repellant. People should check for ticks after going indoors and remove any ticks gently with a tweezer. https://www.news10.com/health/tick-borne-alpha-gal-syndrome-leaves-some-new-yorkers-unable-to-eat-red-meat/
Here is information from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Alpha Gal Syndrome:
What is alpha-gal syndrome?
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergy and tickborne disease. Alpha-gal is a molecule (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) that is naturally produced in the bodies of most mammals but not in people. It is also found in the saliva (spit) of some ticks.
When a tick bites, it can transfer alpha-gal from its saliva into a person’s blood. The body’s natural defenses, or immune system, can identify alpha-gal as a threat and trigger an allergic reaction. Symptoms occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other products made from mammals. Because of this, AGS is also known as red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy.
Nearly 450,000 people may be affected
More than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified between 2010 and 2022. However, cases of AGS are not nationally notifiable to CDC. The actual number of AGS cases in the United States is not known, but as many as 450,000 people may be affected. More data and research are needed to understand how many people are affected by this condition.
Risk factors
AGS is caused by tick bites, though more research is needed to understand the role ticks play in causing AGS. In the United States, AGS is primarily associated with the bite of a lone star tick, and less commonly by the bite of a blacklegged tick or a western blacklegged tick. In other countries, other tick species have been linked to AGS. In the United States, not every person bitten by a lone star, blacklegged, or western blacklegged tick will develop AGS. The reason why certain people develop AGS and others do not is not known.
Most cases of AGS have been reported in adults, but people of all ages can develop AGS.
Most reported cases of AGS in the United States occur in South, East, and Central states. These are the areas where most lone star ticks are found.
Prevention
The best way to protect yourself and your family from developing AGS is to prevent tick bites.
More ways to reduce risk
You can also take steps to protect your pets and reduce risk of tick exposure around your home. https://www.cdc.gov/alpha-gal-syndrome/about/index.html accessed 07/10/26
Oddly, last Summer, a peer-reviewed paper advocated having more people with Alpha Gal Syndrome from ticks. Here are quotes from the abstract of that paper:
The bite of the lone star tick spreads alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a condition whose only effect is the creation of a severe but nonfatal red meat allergy. Public health departments warn against lone star ticks and AGS, and scientists are working to develop an inoculation to AGS. Herein, we argue that if eating meat is morally impermissible, then efforts to prevent the spread of tickborne AGS are also morally impermissible. After explaining the symptoms of AGS and how they are transmitted via ticks, we argue that tickborne AGS is a moral bioenhancer if and when it motivates people to stop eating meat. (Parker Crutchfield, Blake Hereth. Beneficial Bloodsucking. Bioethics. First published: 22 July 2025, https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.70015)
You will note that the above was published in Bioethics.
Advocating allergies to reduce red meat consumption is not ethical.
While the Bible allows for vegetarianism and points to times it is wise (cf. Daniel 1:11-17), it also opposes condemning meat eaters:
2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. (Romans 14:2-4)
The Bible specifically enjoins the eating of certain red meat animals, while prohibiting certain others:
2 … ‘These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: 3 Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud — that you may eat. 4 Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 5 the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 6 the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 7 and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you. (Leviticus 11:2-8)
4 These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. 6 And you may eat every animal with cloven hooves, having the hoof split into two parts, and that chews the cud, among the animals. 7 Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat, such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax; for they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you. 8 Also the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses. (Deuteronomy 14:4-8)
Yet, those writers published at Bioethics do not want to believe the word of God.
The following look to apply to them:
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21)28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; (Romans 1:28-32)
No one should wish harm for people who are willing to follow what the word of God teaches.
While the writers published at Bioethics did not actually harm meat eaters, it is talking against what the Bible teaches which tends to lead to persecution.
Some items of related interest may include:
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There are also three video sermons you can watch: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution, The Coming Persecution of the Church, and Christian Persecution from the Beast. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Prophecies Showing Persecution of Sabbath Keepers Are Sabbath-keepers going to be persecuted in the 21st century? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies that point to this type of persecution? Here is a link to a related sermon: Sabbath Persecution Prophecies.
Biological Warfare and Prophecy. Is biological warfare possible? Was it prophesied? Scientists have long warned that pathogenic organisms like the coronavirus could be weaponized. Furthermore, back in 2017, there were concerns that the biological research facility being constructed in Wuhan, China was risky and that a coronavirus from it could be released. On January 25, 2020, China’s President Xi Jinping publicly stated that the situation with the Wuhan-related strain of the coronavirus was grave. Did Church of God writers like the late evangelist Raymond McNair warn that engineered viruses (the “Doomsday bug”) were consistent with prophecies from Jesus? Did a warning from CCOG leader Bob Thiel warn about risks of genetically-modified (GMO) mosquitoes come to pass? Could human research and/or the consumption of biblically-unclean animals such as bats and snakes be a factor in current outbreaks or coming future pestilences? What about famines? How devastating have pestilences been? How devastating are the prophesied ones going to be? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What do each of the four horseman of the Apocalypse represent? Have they began their ride? Did Jesus discuss the any of this? Might their rides coincide with the “beginning of sorrows? Do they start their ride prior to the Great Tribulation? Did Nostradamus o
Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse What is the pale horse of death and pestilences? What will it bring and when? Here is a link to a related sermon: Fourth Horseman, COVID, and the Rise of the Beast of Revelation. Here is a version of that sermon in Spanish: El Cuarto Caballo, El COVID y El Surgimiento de la Bestia del Apocalipsis. Some shorter related videos may include Amphibian Apocalypse: Threat to Humans? and Zombie Deer Disease is Here! Are the 10 Plagues on Egypt Coming? Here is a version of the article in Spanish: El cuarto jinete de Apocalipsis, el caballo pálido de muerte y pestilencia.