Alpha-Gal Syndrome - Red Meat Allergy from Tick Bite

For several years now I have been living with Alpha-Gal Syndrome, which means that I have an allergic reaction several hours after eating red meat.  Symptoms can sometimes be quite severe and include hives/itching/face-swelling and chest pains. This syndrome is caused by being bitten by certain species of ticks.

It was previously mainly a problem in the USA, but it now seems to be be popping up with increasing frequency in many countries around the world, including South Africa.

I know one other person here who also has this condition, and interestingly enough he is also a Drakensberg hiker, which of course leads me to wonder if we might have both been bitten in the Drakensberg.   On the flip side I also know plenty others who hike regularly in the Berg and have no such issue.

There seems to be very little info available about Alpha-Gal in South Africa such as which tick species is responsible, and which areas it might be found. I did find one scientific study that found fairly high prevalence of  alpha gal amongst inhabitants of rural parts of the Eastern Cape.

So I am putting this post here on the off chance that any other hikers might also have AG or know anyone else who might have it.  I am hoping in time a clearer picture will emerge of exactly where these critters may be lurking!