A Maryland man is trying to raise awareness about a tick-borne disease that has long baffled him and doctors. Douglas Kifolo suffered from sudden and extreme seizures hives, vomiting and gastrointestinal problems. The doctors couldn’t deal with it and Kifolo was at a loss. “It lasted for five years, with breaks. I was in emergency rooms and doctor’s offices, trying to find out why,” said Kifolo, reports the portal.
Then his son noticed that he developed hives after eating. It reminded him of a friend who had allergic reactions to red meat because of it alpha-gal syndrome. Kifolo underwent tests that confirmed he had the same disease. Although for the syndrome there is no curehe must strictly monitor his diet and other things, as red meat, dairy products and even some medications can cause a reaction.
As a result of the changing climate, it has occurred recently a sharp increase in diseases that are not transmitted directly from person to person, but through insects or other vectors. The increasing incidence of extreme weather events, such as heat waves and heavy rains, provides ideal conditions for the reproduction of a wide variety of insects that serve as hosts for disease. Zika, chikungunya, malaria, yellow fever, West Nile, Oropouche and dengue are just a few of the diseases that spread with the expanding mosquito population.
Similarly, more ticks transmit Heartland virus, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, rabbit fever (tularemia), and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. except alpha-gal syndrome. After finally receiving a diagnosis, Kifolo devoted his energies to raising awareness about alpha-gal syndrome and the threats posed by ticks. He is currently distributing mats and wooden tokens that direct people to AlphagalInformation.org.
“They need to know about it. That’s why I do it. That’s why I’m passionate about it,” Kifolo said. “There are a lot of us out there suffering and I want them and the general public to be educated,” he added.
