First Known Death from Tick-Induced Meat Allergy: A Boy Dies After Eating Sausage

Five years after her son Jeremy celebrated his 15th birthday at a restaurant, Myfanwy Webb still grapples with what she sees as a missed opportunity. At that birthday lunch, Jeremy began struggling to breathe, vomiting, and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors suspected a meat allergy but attributed the episode to his asthma. He was discharged the next day without an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen).

Just over a year later, in June 2022, Jeremy died after eating a beef sausage on a camping trip with friends near Sydney, Australia. The initial cause of death was recorded as asthma. However, in February 2024, after an inquest pushed by his family, a coroner ruled that the asthma attack and fatal anaphylaxis were triggered by tick-induced mammalian meat allergy (MMA), also known as alpha-gal syndrome.

This death is the first known globally to be caused by MMA, a condition that has been steadily rising since 2007, when Australian doctor Sheryl van Nunen first identified the link between tick bites and the allergy. The allergy occurs when a tick bite triggers the immune system to produce antibodies against alpha-gal, a sugar molecule found in mammalian meat (beef, lamb, pork). Subsequent consumption of meat can cause a delayed allergic reaction, ranging from hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Experts warn that MMA is easily preventable through avoiding tick bites and removing ticks properly, but the condition can be unpredictable. Symptoms can appear hours after eating, making it difficult to connect the trigger. Unlike typical food allergies, people with MMA may have eaten meat safely for years before developing the allergy.

Jeremy's case highlights the need for awareness among medical professionals. The coroner recommended that emergency departments consider MMA as a potential cause when patients present with anaphylaxis of unknown origin, especially in tick-prone areas.

Webb hopes her son's story will prevent future deaths. 'If only people knew what a tick could do,' she said, echoing the original headline. The family has since campaigned for better education and for the availability of EpiPens in public places.

While cases of MMA have been reported in many countries, including the United States, Europe, and parts of Asia, the exact prevalence is unknown. Estimates suggest thousands of people in Australia alone may be affected, with increasing diagnoses each year.

Scientists are working on treatments, including desensitization therapies, but currently, the only effective management is strict avoidance of mammalian meat and carrying epinephrine for emergencies.

Jeremy's death underscores a growing public health concern. As tick habitats expand due to climate change, more people may be at risk. Awareness and prevention remain the best defences.