Diseases carried by ticks are prevalent in the northeast, experts say. (AP photo)

(AP) — Most people are familiar with Lyme disease, but did you know there’s another tick-borne illness quietly spreading like wildfire? The Centers for Disease Control reports more than 110,000 suspected cases were identified between 2010 and 2022. Unlike Lyme disease, this one has no cure and can completely upend your life.

Lyme disease has been the poster child for tick-borne illnesses in the United States for decades, and for good reason. It can cause extensive health issues, especially if not caught early. But the blacklegged tick isn’t the only eight-legged, disease-spreading nuisance out there. As lone star ticks spread, they bring with them a whole new kind of threat.

Lyme disease and the blacklegged tick

Transmitted by blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, Lyme can lead to a wide range of symptoms, from fever, chills and fatigue to joint pain, neurological problems and long-term complications if not treated early.

Thanks to growing public awareness, many people now recognize the bull’s-eye rash that can appear at the site of a bite. And, they know to watch for flu-like symptoms after spending time outdoors, especially in the Northeast and upper Midwest.

Public health campaigns, celebrity diagnoses and widespread media coverage have pushed Lyme disease into the national spotlight. The CDC estimates that more than 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme each year in the U.S., although many cases still go unreported or misdiagnosed.

But as blacklegged ticks grab headlines, another tick is quietly expanding its range, from the Southeastern U.S. to as far north as Maine and as far west as Nebraska. And it’s bringing a new kind of danger.

Meet the lone star tick

If blacklegged ticks are the stealthy culprits behind Lyme disease, lone star ticks are their aggressive, hyperactive cousins. Most ticks sit and wait for a host to come along. Meanwhile, these reddish-brown ticks will chase down their prey, especially humans, deer and other large animals.

And if one bite sounds bad, imagine hundreds. Dr. Holly Gaff, professor and chair of the biological sciences department at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., has been leading the ODU Tick Research Team since 2009. She explains that you will often find large numbers of lone star ticks in areas that attract deer and other large mammals. “For example, a bed down area for a family of deer can result in large numbers of lone star ticks at that location a year later.”

Gaff also shares that the lone star tick is “one of a few that will readily bite humans in all life stages.” Lone star tick larvae hatch in swarms known as tick bombs, with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of nearly invisible baby ticks waiting in the brush. Just one encounter with a cluster can leave you covered in bites and at significantly higher risk for a tick-borne disease.

=Marilyn Paquet, a business analyst in Franklin, Va., learned this the hard way. Over Labor Day weekend in 2017, more than 100 larval lone star ticks bit her while camping. “Several weeks later, I had my first reaction after eating beef tacos,” she says. “My palms turned red, swelled slightly and felt like I’d just placed them on a hot stove. Then came excruciating stomach pain, vomiting and full-body hives.”

When a tick bite makes you allergic to food

Lone star ticks don’t spread Lyme disease, but they are linked to other illnesses, including ehrlichiosis and tularemia. They’re also the primary cause of one of the strangest allergies on record: alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS.

Unlike Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria, AGS is triggered by a sugar molecule. This isn’t the type of sugar you stir into your iced tea, but a special sugar called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or alpha-gal for short. It’s found in the meat and by-products of most mammals, including cows, pigs and sheep.

After a lone star tick bite, your immune system can decide that alpha-gal is a threat. Suddenly, you may become allergic to meat, dairy and mammal-derived ingredients in medications, supplements and even personal care products.

Worse, alpha-gal reactions are often delayed. Unlike other food allergies, which usually trigger symptoms within minutes, AGS reactions can strike hours later. You might eat a burger for dinner, then wake up at 2 a.m. writhing in pain, covered in hives or worse.

A life-changing diagnosis

Most people with AGS will tell you the most challenging part isn’t just giving up bacon or ice cream. It’s learning that alpha-gal is everywhere. And because reactions are delayed, many sufferers have no idea what caused them to become ill or that a tick bite is to blame.

To make matters even more complicated, food product labeling laws that protect people with wheat, shellfish, peanut or another Big 9 food allergy don’t include alpha-gal. That means it can also lurk in medications, personal care products and even medical devices.

Beyond physical symptoms, AGS takes an emotional and social toll. Eating out feels risky. Explaining your condition gets exhausting. Everyday experiences, from backyard barbecues to family road trips, become fraught with anxiety.

Protecting yourself from lone star ticks

Most tick bite advice centers around blacklegged ticks and Lyme disease. But lone star ticks are a different beast, and they require a different strategy.

Gaff advises, “Avoiding lone star tick bites is hard, but permethrin is helpful.” The most effective defense? Wear permethrin-treated clothing. You can buy pre-treated garments, spray your own gear or send clothes to Insect Shield for professional treatment.

Mary Collins, vice president of business development at Insect Shield, explains, “Permethrin is proven to be the most effective tick repellent. It causes ‘hot feet’ in the tick, limiting their ability to move and, most importantly, bite.” Just treating your shoes can reduce tick bites by more than 73.6 times compared to those who don’t wear untreated footwear. Just never apply permethrin directly to skin.

For added protection, Gaff recommends wearing light-colored clothing that covers your skin. Repellents like DEET and picaridin may offer some extra safety, but they’re less reliable against lone star ticks and should only be used as a backup.

She also treats her car mats and keeps a lint roller on hand to quickly remove any ticks she sees crawling around. However, she warns that “ticks can pull themselves off the tape if you leave them for long enough.”

When outdoors, stick to the middle of clearly marked trails, avoid sitting on grass or logs and leash pets to keep them out of tick habitats. Before getting in the car, use a lint roller on your clothes and exposed skin. Once home, toss your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes before washing them. Then, shower thoroughly and check your entire body, especially areas that are hard to see.

The tick threat you didn’t see coming

For most folks, ticks are synonymous with Lyme disease. But as lone star ticks continue to spread, and more people are blindsided by a diagnosis they didn’t even know was possible, it’s clear we’re dealing with something different.

Alpha-gal syndrome isn’t just another food allergy. It’s a life-altering condition that can make everyday choices feel like life-or-death decisions, from what you eat to the medicine you take. And because the reaction can be delayed and difficult to trace, many people live with symptoms for months or years before discovering a tick bite is to blame.

The good news? You can protect yourself: learn the signs, treat your clothes and take simple precautions before stepping outside. Because one bite really can change everything.

Diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome in March 2021, Sage Scott went from Kansas City barbecue lover to reluctant flexitarian overnight. At Sage Alpha Gal, she combines lived experience and delicious recipes with research-backed guidance and no-nonsense advice to make life with AGS less overwhelming and a lot more delicious.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The content presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or dietary changes. Reliance on any information provided by this article is solely at your own risk.