Teen’s Death May Be Linked toโ Rare Meat Allergyโ Triggered by Tick Bites, NSW Coroner Hears
Sydney, NSW – A NSW deputy coroner is considering whether a โขteenage boy’s death in 2022 was caused byโ a โคrare meat allergy โฃdeveloped after โคbeing bitten by a โtick, a condition known as mammalian meat allergy (MMA). Tehโ inquest โฃinto the death of Jeremy Webb, 19, โขheard evidence suggesting a connection between the tick bite and a severeโค anaphylactic reaction after he consumed a beef burger.
The case highlights theโค growing awareness of โMMA, a condition โขwere individuals develop an allergy to red meat – beef, pork, lamb, and venison – after being bitten by certain species of ticks. The โคbite transmitsโ a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, which can trigger an allergic response to mammalian meat. Symptoms can range from hives and gastrointestinal distress to severe anaphylaxis.
Ms. Myfanwy Webb,Jeremy’s mother,told the inquest herโ son was bitten by a tick while bushwalking in february 2022. He subsequently developed a previouslyโ unknown allergy to red meat, experiencing reactions after consuming โbeef. On November 20, 2022, Jeremy suffered โa fatalโค anaphylactic reaction after eating โฃa burger, and initial investigations did not linkโค the reaction to a meat allergy.
Professor Richard van Nunen, an expert โin tick-borne diseases, told the court that the correct procedure for tick removal โis to “freeze it – don’t squeeze it.” He recommends spraying the tick wiht ‘Tick-off’ – a freezing medicationโ – approximately one centimetre above the insect, and then allowing it to drop off. If the tick โฃdoesn’t detach, he advises seeking removal by a general practitioner or at an emergency department, or carefully extracting it with fine-tipped forceps.
Ms. Webb believes a misdiagnosis in her son’s case couldโค lead to further fatalities from MMA. She is advocating for a public health campaign to โคeducate both medicalโข professionals and the public about the allergy and its link to tick bites.
“I think Jeremy would be so proud of this inquest about his death,” Ms. webb said. “If it saves oneโฃ more โคlife, then that’s aโข win, a huge win.”
The โขdeputy coroner’s findings are expected to be delivered at a later date and could potentiallyโฃ lead toโค changes in how โขMMA is recognised and managed in NSW.
