What Is Lone Star Tick? Everything To Know About The Bug That Causes Meat Allergies

Lone Star Tick is a type of an insect that is fast becoming a nightmare for meat lovers all across the United States. A single bite from this pest can make one severely allergic to red meat.

Someone feasting on beef or bacon would not immediately feel the effects of the bite; the symptoms start to show only after a few hours. A person’s body would be covered in hives and cold sweat. Since the symptoms are pretty similar to food poisoning, it is often hard to tell them apart.

The bug is found in natural spaces such as grasslands or playgrounds. Since the bug was restricted to specific, small regions in the past most of people are unaware about it.

The tiny bug carries a white dot or star at the center of its back, justifying its name. These bugs can travel long distances in search for a host, according to Tick Info.

Earlier, the bug was restricted to the southeastern states of America, but now the tick has started to make its way to the west, and is now found in areas like the Kansas City. Apart from Kansas, some of the other places that the Lone Star Tick has been spotted are Duluth, Minnesota; Hanover, New Hampshire; and Long Island, New York, Bustle reported.

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Kelly Plaas from Kansas, who was bitten by the Lone Star Tick in the summer of 2014, described her experience of temporarily becoming allergic to meats following the bite.

"I was very sick for a long time," Kelly Plaas told FOX 4 News. "I'd had meat for dinner, and within four or five hours, I woke up in the middle of the night. I had a burning feeling going through my body. It started at my feet, and I felt like I was burning. It went through my body and I broke out in sweat and hives."

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Plaas believed that she contracted the disease during one of the many outdoor activities that she enjoys, including golfing and photography. Medical officials at the University of Kansas Health System have said that the symptoms of the tick’s bite can be life-threatening.

"Anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction can cause a drop in blood pressure, passing out, severe throat-tightening, wheezing, chest symptoms that are similar to asthma. This can all happen very quickly and can be life-threatening," Dr. Selina Gierer, an immunologist with the University of Kansas Health System said.

As to why Lone Star Tick’s saliva affects the digestion of red meat in particular in humans is still undetermined. However, some experts believe that some chemical found in the tick’s saliva interferes with alpha-gal, a protein-linked saccharide hormone found in red meat.

After encountering the bug herself, Plaas is determined to spread awareness on how deadly Lone Star Tick can be. To this end, she has created a Facebook group for people who fight Alpha Gal, many of whom have been bitten by the bug.

According to the University of Kansas Health System, people do not need to take special precautionary measure to keep the tiny pest at bay. Typical safety standards like insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves while going outdoors, especially in areas covered in long grass, tends to work well in preventing Lone Star Tick bites.