Tick causing severe meat and dairy allergy in humans rapidly spreads across U.S. | 12:30 REPORT

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]There's a tick that causes people to develop a severe allergy to meat and dairy and it's been rapidly spreading across the United States. It's called the lone star tick and it's been primarily found in the south, but recently it's been spotted in more northern states. It's been confirmed in more than 30 states so far. Getting bit by this tick can cause alpha gal syndrome or AGS, which can be life-threatening. When people with AGS eat meat or dairy, they can get hives, difficulty breathing, vomiting, severe stomach pain, and even full anaphylactic shock. Lone star ticks are fast-moving and are aggressive biters. What does this tick look like? Unfortunately, it looks like most other ticks. Adult females have a single white dot on their backs, while males have black lines.

[00:00:52]Experts say the best way to avoid these ticks is to protect against all tick bites. Check your clothing, bodies, and pets for ticks when you come inside.

[00:01:02]Also, you can treat your clothing with products that contain permethrin. The EPA has a list of approved insect repellents. I'm Kate Martel and I write The Hill's 12:30 Report newsletter. For more today's news, go check it out. You can find it at the hill.com.

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