Central Coast teen becomes first Australian fatality from tick-induced red meat allergy

The condition, more widely known as alpha-gal syndrome, is a potentially life-threatening allergy to mammalian products, including beef, pork and lamb. In some cases, it can also be triggered by gelatine and certain animal-derived fats.

Unlike most food allergies, which usually cause symptoms within minutes, alpha-gal reactions can be delayed by several hours, making it harder to recognise the cause.

Jeremy had reportedly been bitten by ticks numerous times since early childhood while camping with his family, exposures that specialists said can sensitise the immune system to a sugar molecule found in mammalian meat.

Clinical immunologist Professor Sheryl van Nunen later diagnosed him posthumously with the condition, linking his history of tick bites to the fatal reaction.

Fatalities linked directly to mammalian meat allergy are considered exceptionally rare worldwide.

While a small number of deaths have been associated with medications containing the alpha-gal molecule, confirmed deaths triggered by eating red meat are extremely uncommon.

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