Overview
- The island opened a dedicated Tick Center this spring to centralize diagnosis, treatment and patient education for tick-borne illnesses including alpha-gal syndrome.
- Martha's Vineyard Hospital reports 1,516 positive alpha-gal tests since 2020 and has treated about 400 patients for clinical alpha-gal syndrome.
- Governor Maura Healey has expressed support for loosening hunting restrictions to reduce deer density, a local advocate says there are more than 5,000 deer on the island and deer serve as key hosts for lone star ticks.
- Restaurants have changed kitchens and menus to serve people with alpha-gal, using separate dishes, plant-based options and new food-preparation steps to limit cross-contamination.
- Local clinicians and researchers stress that many people carry alpha-gal antibodies without symptoms, that most cases are not anaphylactic, and that planned local studies aim to clarify who is at true clinical risk.