What was once a rare tick-borne illness causing severe allergic reactions to red meat has seen a rapid rise in recent years, impacting as many as 400,000 people across the U.S.

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is caused by infected bites from the lone star tick, a parasite known for carrying Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Lori Dawson, a wildlife rehabilitator based in Bowling Green, knows the firsthand impacts of AGS all too well. In 2020, she was diagnosed with AGS after a year-long battle with recurring allergic reactions, weight loss, and varying opinions from doctors. She said that mounting confusion and the overwhelmed nature of medical facilities at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic made a diagnosis almost impossible.

“Anytime I ate, I would break out in hives. I would h

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