Arkansas is experiencing what state health officials describe as an unusually active tick season, and public health leaders are urging residents to take extra precautions as people spend more time outdoors.
Reports and anecdotal signals point to higher activity
“Anecdotally, just from seeing things on my own pets and hearing from people, I do feel like the season may be worse than normal,” said Dr. Laura Rothfeldt, Arkansas’ state public health veterinarian.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control indicate 2026 has been a difficult year nationwide for tick-bite prevention, and Arkansas is reflecting that trend. State reporting this year shows the Arkansas Department of Health has received 3,005 suspected cases of alpha-gal — a tick-associated allergy that can cause delayed reactions to red meat and related products.
“Anecdotally, just from seeing things on my own pets and hearing from people, I do feel like the season may be worse than normal,”
What is alpha-gal and why it matters here
Alpha-gal syndrome is an immune reaction to a sugar molecule found in mammalian meat and some gelatin-containing products. In the United States, the allergy is most commonly linked to bites from the lone star tick, which is abundant in Arkansas.
Symptoms vary from mild hives and swelling to severe, delayed anaphylaxis. Unlike many tickborne infections treated with antibiotics, alpha-gal is not an infection with a cure; it is an allergic condition that can require long-term dietary adjustments to avoid triggers.
State reporting and interpretation of the numbers
Arkansas became the first state to require laboratories to report suspected alpha-gal cases to the state health department in 2023. The figure of 3,005 represents suspected cases identified by blood tests that detect antibodies produced after exposure to the alpha-gal molecule.
Rothfeldt pointed out that a positive antibody test does not guarantee a person will develop clinical symptoms. “Out of those people that have an elevated antibody level, many of those people do not show allergy to that,” she said.
| Metric | 2026 (to date) |
|---|---|
| Suspected alpha-gal reports | 3,005 |
Practical advice for residents
- Use EPA-registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535 when outdoors.
- Wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck pant legs into socks when walking in wooded or grassy areas.
- Perform thorough tick checks on yourself, children and pets after outdoor activity and remove ticks promptly.
- Consult a health care provider and mention recent tick exposures if you develop unexplained allergic reactions, hives or delayed symptoms after eating red meat.
As summer temperatures rise and daylight stretches into the evening, public health officials say vigilance and prevention are the most effective tools to reduce tick bites and the potential for tick-associated conditions like alpha-gal syndrome.
Reporting requirements and continued monitoring by the Arkansas Department of Health aim to give clinicians and the public better information about the local burden of the condition and to guide prevention efforts across the state.
