On a June night in 2022, 16-year-old Jeremy Webb was camping with friends on the New South Wales Central Coast, north of Sydney, when he suddenly became ill after eating beef sausages. Struggling to breathe, Jeremy ran from the campground to a nearby camper van, asking the occupants to call an ambulance before collapsing. Despite his friends’ efforts to administer CPR, Jeremy was declared dead at the hospital just over an hour later.
Initially attributed to asthma, a coronial inquest has now revealed that Jeremy’s death was caused by an allergic reaction to meat, triggered by a tick bite. This marks the first documented fatal case of mammalian meat allergy in Australia, and potentially the world.
Understanding Mammalian Meat Allergy
The inquest, which followed extensive advocacy by Jeremy’s parents, highlighted the need for greater public awareness of this rare allergy. According to findings by the deputy NSW state coroner Carmel Forbes, “Jeremy died as a result of anaphylaxis due to mammalian meat allergy after a tick bite, causing an acute exacerbation of asthma.”
Prof Sheryl van Nunen, a clinical immunologist and allergist at the National Allergy Centre of Excellence, first identified the link between tick bites and mammalian meat allergy. This association has now been confirmed by researchers globally. Van Nunen remarked, “Jeremy was the first worldwide,” noting only one other known case—a 47-year-old pilot in New Jersey who died in 2024.
The Role of Alpha-Gal
The allergen responsible for these reactions is alpha-gal, a sugar molecule present in the saliva and gut of ticks, as well as in many mammals, including beef, lamb, pork, goat, kangaroo, and venison. Van Nunen explains, “This is a 21st-century allergy,” exacerbated by ecological changes.
After two or more tick bites, approximately one in two people develop an alpha-gal allergy antibody. When these individuals consume meat, the alpha-gal is released, triggering an allergic reaction. Symptoms typically appear three to six hours after eating meat, as the body digests the food and releases the alpha-gal.
Symptoms can range from gastrointestinal issues to welts, swelling, and anaphylaxis. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy recommends that individuals in tick-infested areas experiencing regular gut discomfort should be screened for alpha-gal allergy.
Implications of the Coroner’s Report
Jeremy’s family had moved to a large property surrounded by dense bush on the NSW Central Coast, where he experienced multiple tick bites. When he began reacting to red meat around age 10, his family suspected a mammalian meat allergy. However, they were unaware of the potential for life-threatening anaphylaxis.
The coroner’s report noted past incidents, including a severe respiratory distress episode misdiagnosed as asthma. Van Nunen described this as a “missed opportunity,” given the symptoms’ sudden and severe onset, Jeremy’s need for multiple adrenaline doses, and his positive response to the treatment.
Van Nunen, who authored the expert report, emphasized that asthma is a significant risk factor for fatal food allergy anaphylaxis, with 85% of such deaths involving asthma.
Remembering Jeremy Webb
Jeremy’s mother, Dr. Myfanwy Webb, shared her ongoing grief in the coroner’s court, describing the profound loss of her “kind and loving son” who enjoyed martial arts and tinkering with computers and engines. The family fondly remembered how Jeremy could revive neglected motors, from lawn mowers to jet skis.
“Three of his mates have tattoos in remembrance of Jeremy,” the report noted, underscoring the deep impact of his loss on those who knew him.
This tragic case underscores the importance of awareness and education around rare allergies like mammalian meat allergy, particularly as ecological changes continue to influence public health.
