Princeton Urges Tick Bite Precautions As Alpha-gal Cases Continue In New Jersey

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton residents are being urged to guard against tick bites as the Princeton Health Department warns that cases of Alpha-gal Syndrome, or AGS, continue to be reported in New Jersey.

The department issued the notice on Tuesday as tick activity increases and reminded people to take steps to reduce exposure outdoors.

According to the health notice, Alpha-gal Syndrome is "also known as 'red meat allergy.'"

The department said it is a serious allergic condition that can develop after the bite of certain ticks, particularly the Lone Star tick.

The notice states that the condition is caused by an immune reaction to alpha-gal, a sugar molecule found in most mammals.

People with AGS may have allergic reactions after consuming beef, pork, lamb, venison or other mammalian products, according to the notice.

Unlike more typical food allergies, symptoms are often delayed and may appear several hours after eating.

The health department listed hives, nausea, stomach pain, shortness of breath and swelling among possible symptoms, and said severe cases can include anaphylaxis.

The notice also says symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening and may not appear until weeks or months after a tick bite.

That delay can make the condition harder to recognize, especially for people who do not connect symptoms with a prior tick bite or with foods they ate hours earlier.

As tick activity rises, the health department is advising residents to take standard precautions when spending time outdoors.

The notice recommends using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, avoiding tall grass and checking for ticks after being outside.

For more information on how to recognize symptoms and prevent tick bites, visit https://buff.ly/r1fmt1E.