Lone Star Tick Spreading Across U.S., Increasing Cases of Red Meat Allergy

The Lone Star tick is expanding its geographic range across the United States, including Connecticut, leading to a rise in Alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening red meat allergy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates up to 450,000 Americans may be affected. In response, Arkansas mandated case reporting in 2023, recording over 3,600 cases in 2025, while businesses like Neumeier’s Whippoorwill Restaurant are adapting menus and kitchens to safely serve affected customers.

Lone Star tick bites

• ▪Lone Star ticks are expanding their range in Connecticut, becoming increasingly common in Fairfield, New Haven, and New London counties
• ▪Lone Star ticks are linked to Alpha-gal syndrome, a condition that causes an allergy to red meat and other mammalian products
• ▪Lone Star ticks, named for the single white dot on their backs, are found mainly in the southeastern United States

Alpha-gal syndrome symptoms

• ▪Symptoms of Alpha-gal syndrome include hives, gastrointestinal distress, and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis, which typically appear several hours after consuming mammalian products
• ▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 450,000 Americans may have Alpha-gal syndrome
• ▪A New Jersey man's death in 2024 is believed to be the first fatality connected to Alpha-gal syndrome
• ▪Alpha-gal syndrome is an immune reaction to the sugar molecule galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, which is introduced into the bloodstream by a Lone Star tick bite

Arkansas case reporting trends

• ▪Arkansas became the first United States state to mandate the reporting of Alpha-gal syndrome in 2023
• ▪Reported confirmed or suspected Alpha-gal syndrome cases in Arkansas rose from over 2,300 in 2024 to over 3,600 in 2025, with more than 2,400 reported through mid-June 2026
• ▪The Arkansas Department of Health has received over 6,700 reports of Alpha-gal syndrome but has only been able to investigate approximately 1,100 due to a lack of dedicated funding

Restaurant alpha-gal accommodations

• ▪Neumeier’s Whippoorwill Restaurant in Fort Smith, Arkansas, accommodates customers with Alpha-gal syndrome by preparing turkey and chicken on a separate gas stovetop
• ▪Neumeier’s Whippoorwill Restaurant explicitly lists "alpha gal" on its menu to signal to customers that the establishment can safely accommodate their dietary needs

Healthcare access disparities

• ▪The southeastern region of Arkansas has fewer healthcare providers, which public health officials believe leads to an undercounting of Alpha-gal syndrome cases
• ▪Confirmed and suspected Alpha-gal syndrome cases in Arkansas are heavily concentrated in the northern and northwestern parts of the state

Tick bite prevention methods

• ▪Dr. Laura Rothfeldt of the Arkansas Department of Health recommends using insect repellent, treating gear with permethrin, and performing tick checks to prevent bites
• ▪Tick activity in Connecticut between January 1 and June 18, 2026, reached its highest level in years, with 3,920 human-biting ticks submitted by residents