Teenager died from meat allergy triggered by tick bite in Australian first | Health

A 16-year-old boy in New South Wales, Australia, died from anaphylaxis after developing an allergy to mammalian meat triggered by a tick bite, a coroner’s inquest has found. The death, which occurred in June 2022, has been determined to be the first documented fatal case of mammalian meat allergy in Australia.

Tick Bite Triggered Fatal Allergic Reaction

Jeremy Webb was camping with friends on the New South Wales Central Coast, north of Sydney, when he vomited and began experiencing difficulty breathing after consuming beef sausages. He sought help from occupants of a nearby camper van, who called for an ambulance, but collapsed before their arrival.

Despite CPR administered by friends and ambulance officers, Webb was pronounced dead at a hospital just over an hour later. His death was initially attributed to asthma, but the inquest revealed the underlying cause was an allergic reaction to meat.

Alpha-Gal Syndrome

The allergy, known as alpha-gal syndrome in the US, was first described by allergy specialists in Australia. The allergen, alpha-gal, is a sugar molecule found in the saliva and gut of ticks, as well as many mammals, including beef, lamb, pork, goat, kangaroo, and venison.

Prof. Sheryl van Nunen, a clinical immunologist and allergist at the National Allergy Centre of Excellence, stated that Webb’s case is the first worldwide she is aware of, noting only one other documented case involving a 47-year-old pilot in New Jersey in 2024.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (Ascia) reports the association between tick bites and the allergy has been confirmed by researchers on all six continents where tick bites occur.

Symptoms of the allergy can appear months or years after the initial tick bite and typically manifest three to six hours after consuming meat, ranging from gastrointestinal issues to welts, swellings, and anaphylaxis. Irritable bowel-like symptoms are common, and Ascia recommends screening for the allergy in individuals experiencing regular gut discomfort in tick-infested areas.

Preventing tick bites is the most important preventative measure. If a bite occurs, proper removal and checking the Tick Anaphylaxis and Mammalian Meat Allergy Resources (Tiara) website for information is recommended.

The inquest followed advocacy from Webb’s parents, who sought to raise public awareness about the condition. Deputy NSW state coroner Carmel Forbes determined that “Jeremy died as a result of anaphylaxis due to mammalian meat allergy after tick bite, causing an acute exacerbation of asthma.”