10. Black-Legged Tick: A New Risk
The black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), commonly known as the deer tick, is now recognized as a significant threat for alpha-gal syndrome in regions beyond the South. Once mainly associated with Lyme disease, its expanding habitat—especially into the Midwest and Northeast—has created new pockets of risk. People living in or visiting these areas should be alert, as these ticks may now play a role in triggering red meat allergies.