Triggered by a bite from the lone star tick, alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) can cause severe allergies to red meat, including beef, pork, and lamb. Currently, most states don’t keep track of AGS cases. A bill has been proposed in Virginia, directing its Board of Health to report those cases to the CDC. The following information was forwarded to us by Tick-Borne Conditions United.

Virginia Alpha-Gal Syndrome Advocacy

***Please do not call or email if you are not from Virginia!***

• House Bill 93 would direct the VA Board of Health to add Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) to the list of diseases required to be reported to the Centers for Disease Control.
• H.B. 93 was introduced by Delegate Otto Wachsmann who has suffered from alpha-gal himself. He is prepared to work hard to get his bill through the Virginia House of Delegates in time for “crossover” to the Senate by February 13 in order to have a chance to pass the General Assembly this year. But he needs all of our help to make this happen!

Please take a minute to reach out to your state delegate and ask them to support H.B. 93

• You can call or email, but calls get significantly more attention than emails. This bill could be considered any day, so please take action today!
• You can find out who your state delegate is and their contact information here: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

Talking Points

1. Introduce yourself! “Hello, this is Jane Smith from ___, Virginia.”
2. Tell them why you are calling/emailing: “I am calling today to ask you to support a bill that is very important to me/my family. House Bill 93 would add alpha-gal syndrome to the list of diseases required to be reported to the Centers for Disease Control. Alpha-gal syndrome is a serious tick-borne condition that causes an allergy to mammal meat and mammal products.”
3. Tell them why you care: “This bill is important to me because….. (give a very short accounting of your experience with alpha-gal and how hard it is to get good information and find doctors who know about it, food you can safely eat and medicine that is safe for you.) “
4. Tell them why they should care: “Virginia a hotspot for alpha-gal syndrome. While nobody knows the true extent, in some areas of the state, up to 3 percent of the population is suspected to suffer from the disease and could have potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. Many go undiagnosed! Adding the disease to the list of conditions required to be reported will help document the extent of this disease in VA and track its spread so that public health resources can be focused accordingly.
5. Complete the ask: “Can I count on Del. X’s support for H.B. 93 and is there any further information you need?”

SOURCE: TBCUnited.org