{"id":25741,"date":"2025-04-28T10:08:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T14:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/tickencounter\/?p=25741"},"modified":"2025-04-30T12:33:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T16:33:19","slug":"survey-tick-experiences-and-alpha-gal-syndrome-awareness-across-new-england","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/tickencounter\/uncategorized\/survey-tick-experiences-and-alpha-gal-syndrome-awareness-across-new-england\/","title":{"rendered":"Survey of Tick and Alpha-Gal Syndrome Awareness: What do folks have to say?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A word cloud of the words used by respondents during our survey. The larger the word the more frequently it was used overall. Created with: WordCloud.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By Valerie MacDonald (April 2025)<\/em> <\/sup>
Valerie MacDonald, a senior in the Honors Program at the University of Rhode Island, lead a research project in collaboration with Dr. Thomas Mather and his team to explore public awareness of Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) and the growing presence of lone star ticks in southern New England. As part of this effort, students were surveyed to learn more about their personal experiences with ticks, their understanding of AGS, and the preventive steps they take (or don\u2019t take) when it comes to tick exposure. This blog post highlights some of the key findings from those conversations\u2014and what they reveal about how prepared people are for the changing tick landscape in our region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many participants had firsthand tick experiences, often involving blacklegged ticks<\/strong><\/a>, American dog ticks<\/strong><\/a>, or lone star ticks<\/strong><\/a> found in wooded areas, yards, or on pets. Some reported serious outcomes like Lyme disease or Babesiosis. AGS awareness was low\u2014only 37% had heard of it\u2014but those affected described severe, life-altering symptoms and diet restrictions. Even participants unfamiliar with AGS expressed concern, noting a red meat allergy would significantly impact their lives, especially due to cultural or nutritional reasons. While some took precautions, many did not, assuming treatment would be easy. The findings highlight a clear need for improved public education on tick-borne diseases beyond Lyme, especially as our climate continues to change along with our tick exposure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Survey Results Broken Down<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tick Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Overall 85% of people interviewed eat red-meat to some degree but more than half had never heard of Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS). Additionally 55% of students had personal experience with being bitten by a tick and shared their tick stories with us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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