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Kansas college professor is hospitalized after bizarre chain reaction left him allergic to BARBECUE food in first case of its kind
A college professor suffered a near-fatal allergic reaction to barbecue meat in what is believed to be one of the first cases of its kind.
Kansas State professor Brian McCornack went into anaphylactic shock and was rushed to the ER hours after eating steak that was cooked on an outdoor grill.
The devastating complication occurs when the body releases a flood of chemicals in response to an allergen, in this case a compound in red meat.
Blood pressure drops suddenly and the airways narrow, preventing sufferers from breathing. It can kill in as little as 30 minutes.
Professor McCornack was shocked to learn his reaction was caused by an allergy, given he had no issues with food in the past.
Through his work as an entomologist, the study of insects, he believes he has traced his complication back to a bizarre source: a tick.
His unexplained allergy was the result of a condition he contracted from Lone Star ticks called Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS)
Professor McCornack first began experiencing more mild stomach issues in August 2023 which he later realized occurred after eating red meat in particular.
But it wasn't until after his brush with death that he joined the dotes weeks late.
He told local Kansas station KSN: 'I didn’t know what it was until a seminar, [I] started putting a lot of pieces together.
His unexplained allergy was the result of a condition he contracted from the ticks called Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).
Professor Brian McCornack believes his allergic reaction stemmed from a new allergy he contracted from a tick bite
Tick saliva can contain a sugar molecule called a-Gal and when ticks bite, its saliva can enter the bloodstream, sending the immune system into overdrive when someone eats red meats like beef, pork or lamb, or animal-based products like cheese.
It comes from the Lone Star tick, which is mainly found in the southeastern US, but is increasingly being detected in northern, eastern and central parts of the country, according to the Mayo Clinic, as deer carry Lone Star ticks to new states.
Professor McCornack believes his case stems from two ticks he found on himself after taking his dogs for a walk.
He discovered one engorged small Lone Star tick and another adult Lone Star tick.
He is not sure exactly when he developed AGS, however.
The CDC said more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the US between 2010 and 2022, but the number is likely higher because the condition is not required to be reported to the agency and many people may have it without knowing it.
There is no cure or treatment for AGS other than avoiding red meat and other animal-derived products.
Professor McCornack said he has to avoid meats, cheeses, ice cream and even certain medications - though not every AGS patient will have a reaction to every meat or animal product.
Lone Star ticks are mainly found in the southeastern US, but are spreading to northern, eastern and central parts of the country as deer carry Lone Star ticks to new states
Peak Lone Star tick activity is in June and September
He said: 'Meat products are in everything, it’s actually byproducts as well, cheeses, you name it - ice cream I can’t have it without having a severe reaction.
'Meat products [are] in pharmaceuticals. I had to work closely with a pharmacist to make sure the pharmaceuticals don’t cause anaphylactic shock. If it’s genuine aspirin they use synthetic-acting agents, if it’s generic they use animal-based.'
The reaction comes from the sugars that are in the products - not the actual products themselves.
About two hours after eating steak, Professor McCornack begins to develop itchy hives and shortness of breath. If he consumes a lot, his airways will begin to close and he could go into shock.
The professor said: 'There’s a two-hour delay post-meal, so you have red meat, it breaks it down… gets into your bloodstream and your immune system basically responds... the immune system says this is a foreign body.'
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) said last month that multiple Lone Star tick-borne diseases have been detected.
The Lone Star tick is the most abundant in the state, widely found in the eastern two-thirds.
Experts described them as 'aggressive human biters' and said tick-borne conditions 'are extremely active this year.'
Lone star ticks vary in size and are usually identifiable by a white dot on their back.
Professor McCornack warned: '[Ticks] are everywhere in our environment. Being aware of it is a big deal, catching it early, doing tick checks making sure you don’t have any ticks.
'You want to check everywhere. Once they’ve attached, there’s a chance.'