A Martha's Vineyard man risks going into anaphylactic shock within mere minutes if he ingests meat or dairy due to a tick-borne infection taking over the exclusive island.
The man, who was not identified, has to avoid red meat and dairy due to being diagnosed with Alpha-gal syndrome, an infection that comes from a Lone Star tick and causes an allergic reaction to certain animal products.
The reaction is so severe that his wife has started to delay ordering an alcoholic beverage until she's sure her husband won't end up in the hospital after his first bite, Alex Wright, who works at Mo's Lunch and has Alpha-gal himself, recalled to The Boston Globe about a pair of regulars.
For Wright, he's one of the luckier ones with the dreaded syndrome, as he can tolerate dairy products.
But he still had to mourn the reality that he will never have a juicy burger again.
'I didn’t realize how emotionally attached to burgers I was until I couldn’t have them,' the freelance photographer told The Globe.
Both men live on Martha's Vineyard – a new hotspot for Alpha-gal syndrome, where even the restaurant landscape is changing to accommodate the growing number of residents suffering the disease.
'I’ve already had the funeral for red meat,' Wright, who has to avoid getting bitten again to avoid making his sensitivities stronger, told The Globe.
A man living on Martha's Vineyard has to avoid dairy and meat or fear he may go into anaphylactic shock within seven minutes. His reactions are so bad, his wife delays her cocktail order in case he has a reaction
Alex Wright, who knows the couple and also has Alpha-gal syndrome, doesn't have it as bad as the other man, but he still has to avoid red meat
'I don’t want to do it for cheese or ice cream.'
Martha's Vineyard Hospital said cases of Alpha-gal have doubled since January 2025.
The syndrome currently has no cure, and it is transmitted through bites from Lone Star ticks.
The Lone Star tick is believed to have come to the ritzy island by being carried by migrating birds from the South.
Now, the island is figuring out its new future with the disease. Many restaurants are creating Alpha-gal-friendly menus, which are often vegan, as sufferers have to avoid mammal products or fear a reaction.
Places like Town Bar and Grill and Red Cat Kitchen have begun offering new options, like a plant-based burger and fried chicken brined in mustard instead of buttermilk, respectively, The Globe reported.
Kitchens are also re-training employees on cross-contamination to avoid accidentally triggering a reaction in a customer.
But for some sufferers, keeping the food separate isn't enough, as some can simply smell it and have a severe reaction.
It is believed migrating birds brought the Lone Star tick to Martha's Vineyard
Some break out in hives when they get meat or dairy, while others could go into anaphylactic shock by just smelling those food items
Congress has even introduced a new bill that would add Alpha-gal to the major food allergen list, which would force restaurants to have new warnings.
The ticks have reportedly taken up residence in the dune grasses, marshlands, lawns and scrub that cover the island, leaving locals afraid to walk through their yards in shorts or flip-flops.
Some locals have turned to hosting meat- and dairy-free barbecues, while grocery stores and restaurants are now selling 'Alpha-gal safe' foods. Schools are also serving lunches that will not trigger the allergy.
The tick invasion is being driven by the island's exploding population of white-tailed deer, with experts now urging officials to reduce the number of deer in the area.
'We've come to the point that the tick problem is so overwhelming, people are desperate for any solution,' biologist Patrick Roden-Reynolds told the Globe.
'Even just a few steps outside your door is a real risk.'
Roden-Reynolds says that Lone Star ticks are faster and more aggressive than other species.
Their larvae, which are about the size of a sand grain, cluster into a so-called 'tick bomb' and, when disturbed, can swarm by the hundreds.
The syndrome is taking over Martha's Vineyard. The disease is largely found in the South
Some residents have turned to heavy-duty pesticides to kill Lone Star ticks, which has caused an uproar among more eco-friendly locals.
Jon Posner, a homeowner in Aquinnah on the western tip of the island, sprayed lambda-cyhalothrin on his lawn, wiping out all but ten ticks.
But his neighbor was infuriated that he used a pesticide that is known to kill other invertebrates, including pollinators.
Other locals are using sprays made of essential oils on their lawns, but Roden-Reynolds said it is unclear exactly how effective these are against ticks.
The island's deer, rabbits and mice have become critical carriers for the ticks, with just one single deer being able to host hundreds of ticks.
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