TBCUnited

08/27/2026

Two myths about alpha-gal syndrome, challenged by data from our newly published study.

Myth: AGS only causes reactions to “red meat”.
Fact: it's so much more. Of the more than 3,400 patients surveyed, two out of three also reacted to dairy, and about 40% reacted to medications (think gelcaps).

Myth: AGS reactions occur immediately.
Fact: patients reported reactions from 0 to 8 hours or more after exposure.

This is the largest AGS patient survey ever conducted, and it confirms what many patients have experienced for years. This condition reaches further than most people realize.

Read the full study at TBCUnited.org

Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | Co-Founder and Executive Director, TBCUnited

08/25/2026

More findings from our new alpha-gal syndrome research. This study surveyed over 3,400 patients, and a few details stand out:.

Most exposures happen at home or at a restaurant. Many patients react again and again, sometimes 15 times or more, before they're ever diagnosed. And while allergists diagnose the majority of AGS patients, primary care providers diagnosed nearly a third, which means this condition shows up across many kinds of appointments, not just specialist visits.

AGS also tends to show up later in life, with an average age at diagnosis around 50.

Read the full research summary at TBCUnited.org

Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | Co-Founder and Executive Director, TBCUnited

08/18/2026

New peer-reviewed research from Dr. Jennifer Platt and her team centers the patient experience of alpha-gal syndrome. The study surveyed more than 3,400 people with AGS to understand what they react to, what symptoms they experience, how long diagnosis takes, and what daily management looks like.
A few things this research confirmed. Reactions go beyond meat to include dairy, gelatin, medications, and personal care products. Symptoms extend past the classic GI and skin reactions to include emotional, motor, and nervous system effects. Reaction timing varies more than previously described. And a negative alpha-gal test does not always rule out AGS, since IgE levels can decline over time.
Time to diagnosis is improving, down to about 4 years from a previously reported 7, but that is still a long time to live with unexplained reactions.
Read the full research summary at TBCUnited.org
Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | Co-Founder and Executive Director, TBCUnited

08/14/2026

We have some exciting news! So much gratitude to the 3,500+ patients and the authors who collaborated in publishing this research Tina Merritt Meinholz olivadoti Weseman, Sarah McGill, Onyiye Iweala, Kelly Cleary, Laura Rothfelt we finally got it out!

Our new peer-reviewed research on alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) begins with the patient experience: Alpha-Gal Syndrome Is More than Meats the IgE.

08/11/2026

I'm so excited to share that I'm hosting a live Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) this Friday, August 14th on r/IamA
I've spent my career researching tick-borne illness, including Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome (yes, the tick bite that can make you allergic to meat). I'll be live on r/IAmA answering your questions in real time, no question too basic.
🕛 Friday, 8/14 | 11am–1pm ET / 8–10am PT📍 r/IAmA on Reddit
Bring your questions, or just come learn something new: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1vlsey1/i_am_dr_jennifer_platt_drph_a_researcher_studying/

08/07/2026

We surveyed people living with tick-borne diseases and the results paint a striking picture of what this journey can look like. Here are five things patients told us.

Almost 6 in 10 said their diagnosis changed their everyday life. Close to 28% reported depression, and 28% also reported having anxiety or panic attacks.

Many patients told us they learned more from social media support groups than from their own healthcare providers. And one in three said it affected their job, through missed work, job loss, or forced retirement. Some found unexpected positives, especially alpha-gal patients who described feeling healthier after changing their diet.

If any of this sounds like your story, you are in the right community.

Learn more at TBCUnited.org
Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | TBCUnited

08/05/2026

New patient survey data confirms what many of you already know from experience. Getting a tick-borne disease diagnosis often takes far longer than it should.
In a national survey of patients sponsored by TBC United, 63% said their treatment was delayed because it was hard to pinpoint what was causing their symptoms. 42% faced delays just trying to get tested. Nearly one in five patients lived with symptoms for one to two years before they got answers, and one in five were diagnosed with more than one tick-borne disease at the same time.
These numbers point to a real gap in provider training and testing access. Closing that gap is exactly why TBC United pushes for better diagnostic tools and physician education. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and your experience matters.
Learn more at www.TBCUnited.org
Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | TBC United

08/01/2026

To close out Lone Star Tick Awareness Week at TBCUnited.org, here's your prevention checklist. Lone star tick season runs longer than you might expect, often from early spring all the way through fall, depending on where you live in the U.S..
Protecting yourself starts with a simple habit. Check yourself head to toe after any time outdoors, paying close attention to your scalp, ears, and the backs of your knees. Use repellent on your skin and your clothes. Late summer brings another challenge, when tiny larvae hatch in clusters and can cover you in a single encounter.
If you find and remove a tick, save it. It could matter later if you develop symptoms.
Learn more at TBCUnited.org
Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | Co-Founder, TBC United

07/30/2026

As part of Lone Star Tick AwarenessWeek at TBCUnited.org, here's a look at how quickly recognition of this disease is catching up to reality. If you've wondered whether alpha-gal syndrome is being taken seriously, the numbers say change is happening!.
Nearly 20 states now require mandatory reporting of alpha-gal syndrome, most recently joined by Missouri on July 13, 2026, when Governor Mike Kehoe signed legislation. That number keeps growing as more clinicians and patients like you push for recognition of this disease.
On Martha's Vineyard, hospital testing for alpha-gal jumped from just 9 cases in 2020 to more than 1,600 last year, with nearly half of those tests coming back positive. A positive test is not currently considered by the CDC to be the same as a clinical diagnosis, but it shows how fast awareness and testing are catching up to what patients have been living with.
The more states that track AGS, the more resources and research you and your community can access.
Learn more at TBCUnited.org
Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | Co-Founder, TBC United

07/29/2026

This week is Lone Star Tick Awareness Week at TBCUnited.org, prime season for this species across much of the country. You probably think of the lone star tick as a southern pest. Not anymore.
This aggressive tick, easy to spot by the white dot on the back of adult females, is now the tick most often linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a serious allergy to red meat and other mammal products. It also transmits ehrlichiosis and spotted fever rickettsias, both of which can be fatal in vulnerable populations (people 70) if not treated within ten days.
It has expanded across the eastern half of the United States and reclaimed its original range north into New England and beyond. Any life stage, even the tiny larvae, can bite and cause problems.
One bite is all it takes to change your life.
Learn more at TBCUnited.org
Dr. Jennifer Platt, DrPH | Co-Founder, TBC United