Local State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) is sponsoring legislation that aims to direct the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to track cases of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) within counties and statewide.
Swanson says the number of cases in Illinois continues to grow, so his bill is about awareness, making people aware of the symptoms and the possible consequences of the illness.
The legislation requires medical reporters to report diagnosed cases of AGS to IDPH.
AGS is a serious, potentially life-threatening, delayed allergic reaction to meat and dairy, typically triggered by Lone Stark tick bites. The bite from the tick transmits a sugar molecule that triggers an immune response to similar sugars in red meat and dairy products.