An official investigation in Australia has concluded that the death of a 16-year-old boy in 2022 was caused by a severe allergy to mammalian meat triggered by a tick bite, marking the first documented death worldwide linked to alpha-gal syndrome.

Correction of Cause of Death

Jeremy Webb's death was initially recorded as resulting from an asthma attack before the investigation, conducted at his family's request, concluded that the real cause was a severe allergic reaction after he consumed beef sausages during a camping trip.

A Disease Difficult to Diagnose

The investigation revealed that the boy had suffered for years from recurring symptoms, including nausea and breathing difficulties after eating meat or products containing gelatin, but his condition was not correctly diagnosed.

Alpha-gal syndrome causes the production of antibodies after exposure to certain types of ticks, leading to an allergy to mammalian meat, and symptoms may appear hours after eating, making diagnosis more complex.

Calls for Prevention

Australian health authorities have urged taking preventive measures when in wilderness areas, including wearing long, light-colored clothing, using insect repellents containing DEET, and avoiding removing ticks in a way that could increase the transfer of toxins into the body.

Experts say that cases of alpha-gal syndrome have increased in recent years in Australia and the United States, amid calls to enhance medical awareness and improve early diagnosis mechanisms.

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