ALPHA-GAL SYNDROME

QUICK LINKS

• COMMUNITY
• HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
• LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
• TESTING
• DATA AND SURVEILLANCE

COMMUNITY

• What is Alpha-gal Syndrome?  Alpha-gal Syndrome known as red meat allergy is an allergic reaction to food, such as red meat and other products made from animals that can result following a tick bite.
• CDC: General Information about Alpha-gal Syndrome

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

• REPORTING: Healthcare providers report cases to the West Virginia Department of Health.
  
• Alpha-gal Syndrome Reporting form
• CDC: Clinical Resources
• Healthcare providers are encouraged to inform and educate patients about tick bites and Alpha-gal Syndrome.
• CDC: Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for Alpha-gal Syndrome
• For questions,call (304) 558 - 5358, EXT. 2

LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

• Reporting: Reportable to the State Health Department within 1 week of notification.
• Alpha-gal Syndrome Surveillance and Investigation Protocol
• Resources:
• Arkansas Dept. of Health: Alpha-gal Syndrome Fact Sheet
  
• Arkansas Dept. of Health: Preventing Tick Bites
• Virginia Dept. of Health: Tick Identification
• New Jersey Dept. of Health: Alpha-Gal Syndrome Information Sheet
• MMWR: Alpha-Gal Syndrome after Ixodes scapularis Tick Bite and Statewide Surveillance, Maine, USA, 2014–2023

TESTING

• CDC: Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for Alpha-gal Syndrome

DATA AND SURVEILLANCE

• Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases in the United States, 2017-2022
• West Virginia Tick Surveillance Report, 2020 ​