The National Network of Public Health Institutes has received federal funding for a five-year effort to improve recognition of alpha-gal syndrome, the potentially serious allergy that can develop after a tick bite. The project will bring public-health agencies, researchers and advocacy groups together to improve awareness and care.
NNPHI described the CDC-funded project in a November 6 announcement. The organization says it is the first federal grant focused on improving knowledge and health outcomes for people affected by the syndrome.
Project will connect health professionals and researchers
Over the next five years, NNPHI plans to convene specialists and maintain a community of practice for public-health agencies, academic researchers and patient advocates.
The effort is intended to improve recognition of a condition that can be missed or diagnosed late. Diana Hamer, the project’s principal investigator, said expanding tick ranges make prevention, recognition and a coordinated public-health response more important.
The network is a membership association for 52 public-health institutes and works with state and local health departments, tribal organizations and other partners.
A tick bite can trigger an allergy to mammal products
Alpha-gal is a molecule found in most mammals, but not in people. In some people, a tick bite can trigger an immune response that later causes allergic reactions after eating red meat or exposure to other products containing alpha-gal.
The CDC’s condition overview says the lone star tick is most often associated with the syndrome in the United States. Not everyone bitten by a tick develops it.
The agency says as many as 450,000 Americans may be affected, but the actual number is unknown. That estimate is not a count of newly diagnosed cases, and the condition is not nationally notifiable to the CDC.
Prevention and care depend on individual needs
The CDC recommends preventing tick bites to reduce risk. People with the syndrome should work with an allergist or another healthcare provider to identify which products they need to avoid.
Some patients react to dairy products or certain medicines as well as meat. Reactions can vary in severity, including potentially life-threatening symptoms, and can differ between exposures.
JBizNews Desk | Health
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