There is no vaccine to prevent Alpha Gal Syndrome. The best way to prevent diseases spread by ticks is to protect yourself and your family from tick bites. Here’s how:

Clothing

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Treat your clothing and gear with permethrin or buy pre-treated items.

Insect repellant

• Use Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: (DEET or permethrin. Always follow the product label instructions.)
• When used as directed, these insect repellents are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Do not use insect repellents on babies younger than 2 months old.
• Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.

How is an alpha-gal allergy diagnosed?
Diagnosis of this allergy starts with your allergist taking an appropriate history and physical examination. Because the onset is usually quite delayed, it can be hard to associate the symptoms with eating red meat many hours previously. Triggers include any red meat – including beef, pork, lamb or even horse products. It may occur after eating hotdogs and hamburgers.  Some patients react to alpha-gal in medications (e.g. gelatin), milk/dairy proteins and possibly fumes.

Your allergist may recommend testing that includes skin tests to the relevant animal proteins and blood tests which measure the levels of a specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, to mammalian meats. An investigational blood test, IgE against alpha-gal itself, may also aid in the diagnosis.

How is an alpha-gal allergy treated?
Immediate symptoms such as hives or shortness of breath are treated the same as any other food allergy - in an urgent care setting with epinephrine, anti-histamines and other medications. Prevention long-term involves avoidance of all red meat in sensitized individuals. You may be advised to carry epinephrine, to be used in case of subsequent accidental exposures and reaction. These measures do not necessarily mean switching to a full vegetarian diet, since poultry and fish can be consumed and do not cause similar reactions. As with other food allergies, there is the possibility that over time the sensitivity diminishes – although these changes may take many years to become apparent.

Alpha Gal Friendly Recipes:

https://mvmagazine.com/cook-the-vineyard/dish/alpha-gal-friendly

https://sagealphagal.com/

https://feathersfins.com/

More Information:

https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/alpha-gal-and-red-meat-allergy