VeganMed
Dec 8, 2024
New research identifies emerging AGS hotspots and highlights urgent need for national reporting and patient education
A new study presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 2024 reveals striking geographic trends in Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS), an allergic condition caused by Lone Star tick bites that may affect up to 450,000 Americans. The study, titled “Geographical Growth Trends Amongst Patients Living with Alpha-gal Syndrome,” was authored by researchers from the University of Arizona and VeganMed, Inc., and sheds light on rising case patterns and major gaps in public health surveillance.
“This is a condition that’s growing fast and quietly — but our systems aren’t keeping up,” said Cora Altomari, PharmD, study co-author and Medical Information Lead at VeganMed. “We found sharp growth in patient activity, but also large blind spots where awareness is still lagging.”
Study Objectives & Methods:
The research team sought to assess geographic growth and patient engagement trends related to AGS by comparing four key datasets:
CDC’s AGS prevalence map (2017–2022)
CDC’s Lone Star tick habitat map (as of July 2024)
ZeeMaps’ patient-reported AGS map
VeganMed’s website traffic and medical inquiry data
Using spatial hotspot analysis, researchers identified correlations between AGS cases, tick distribution, and digital health-seeking behavior related to animal-free medications — which are often required by AGS patients due to their sensitivity to mammalian-derived ingredients.
Key Findings:
Significant growth in AGS-related traffic and inquiries was observed in the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and Midwest — signaling expansion beyond traditionally recognized regions.
The top five states with the most website traffic and inquiries about animal-free medications were Missouri, California, Virginia, Texas, and New York.
An 81.9% increase in AGS-related inquiries was recorded between Q1 and Q2 of 2024.
Certain high-prevalence states based on CDC data showed surprisingly low engagement, suggesting critical education gaps or limited access to ingredient transparency tools.
No additional public sources were found to track AGS prevalence outside of the CDC and self-report maps — underscoring the need for better national surveillance.
Public Health Implications:
AGS remains underdiagnosed and unreportable in most of the U.S., making it difficult for healthcare providers and policymakers to track the true scope of this growing condition.
“There is currently no active surveillance system for AGS,” said Cora Altomari, co-author and Medical Information Lead at VeganMed. “Yet we are seeing real-time demand for answers from patients trying to manage a life-altering allergy.”
The study calls for mandatory reporting of AGS to the CDC, increased physician awareness, and stronger public education campaigns — especially in newly emerging regions.
About Alpha-gal Syndrome
Alpha-gal Syndrome is a delayed allergic reaction to a sugar molecule (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) found in most mammals. It is triggered by the bite of the Lone Star tick, and symptoms can range from gastrointestinal discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis, particularly after eating red meat or taking medications containing animal-derived ingredients.