The Reynolds Homestead, a community outreach center of Virginia Tech in Critz, the New College Institute in Martinsville, Carilion Clinic, and Martinsville-Henry County Tourism are partnering to offer the first regional symposium on Alpha-gal, the mammal meat allergy resulting from the bite of the Lone Star tick.

“Empower Yourself to Live Well with Alpha-gal” will be held on Saturday, August 25 at the New College Institute in Martinsville.

Registration information can be found at the Reynolds Homestead webpage www.reynoldshomestead.vt.edu, or call Lisa Martin, symposium organizer, at (276) 694-7181, extension 22.

Many people are familiar with Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, two tick-borne illnesses that can be contracted in Virginia. A new tick-borne allergic reaction has been discovered, triggered by the saliva of the Lone Star tick which causes the human immune system to produce antibodies to a carbohydrate called alpha-gal, which is found in red meat.

Unlike other food allergies, alpha-gal is unique in that its reactions are delayed. Sometimes symptoms do not appear until several hours after exposure, which can make them difficult to diagnose.

These red meat allergies are on the rise across Virginia and North Carolina, where deer populations have spiked in recent years. The Lone Star tick is primarily a deer tick and that correlation may be the key to why this allergy has increased so much recently.

“Alpha-Gal Syndrome has become a routine diagnosis in our area, but information on how to live with it is limited. New College Institute is excited to partner with the Virginia Tech Reynolds Homestead to host this symposium.  We are working to provide future educational opportunities for individuals as well as certifications for medical professionals, restaurants, and others to maximize awareness,” Leanna Blevins, executive director.

Symposium registration and check-in begins at 9 a.m. with the keynote “What is Alpha-gal?” kicking the event off at 10 a.m.  Lunch is provided and catered by Amaroo Hills Emu Farm, a Raleigh-area farm whose owners both have alpha-gal. Farm owners wanted to develop safe products for people to eat. Emu, though poultry, is a red meat with the same consistency and taste as hamburger.

Following lunch, breakout sessions will be held to address protecting yourself and your home from ticks, how to manage a child’s alpha-gal, advocate for better understanding of alpha-gal, and managing nutrition.  The event will include informational tables which help to identify products that are alpha-gal friendly, including shampoos and other bath products, tick repellants, and more.

“One key piece of information we want to get out there is the danger of ‘hidden’ mammal in products that you would never expect,” Martin said. “Crayons, dryer sheets, many medications, marshmallows – all contain mammal products. This allergy reaches beyond just simply cutting out red meat, and we will have a display to help people understand what to watch for on labels.”

Dr. Patrick Favero, a local physician, sees the distress that alpha-gal can cause, not only in his practice at Martinsville Family Medicine, but also first hand.

“I have an Alpha-Gal diagnosis myself, so I personally know the struggles and how it affects the daily lives of so many in our region,” Favero said. “I am here to help patients with their diagnosis and treatment.”

While not everyone who is bitten by the Lone Star tick will develop alpha-gal, those who do can also be bewildered by the wide range of symptoms and their delayed appearance. Signs and symptoms of an alpha-gal allergic reaction are often delayed compared with other food allergies. Most reactions to common food allergens — peanuts or shellfish, for example — happen within minutes of exposure. In alpha-gal syndrome, signs and symptoms typically don’t appear for three to six hours after eating red meat.

Symptoms may range from mild hives, itching, swelling of the face, lips and tongue, to more serious gastro-intestinal issues such as nausea or diarrhea, headaches, and more seriously, anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that can be potentially fatal.

“While the diagnosis of alpha-gal can seem overwhelming to many people, there are ways that individuals can ensure that their lives are not hindered,” said Martin. “The focus of the symposium is to empower people to take charge of alpha-gal and advocate for their own good health.”

The symposium is funded in part by a grant from Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech, whose mission through the grant is to increase education about regional health issues.

Following the symposium, Martinsville-Henry County Tourism will sponsor an after-hours Meet and Greet for attendees, many of whom will be coming from out of town. Learning from each other and networking is one of the best ways to increase knowledge about alpha-gal.