General Discussion

It isn't transmitted from person to person, it requires a tick as a vector. Once it develops, it turns into an often deadly allergy to mammal meat. Birds, eggs, fish, and veggies can be eaten safely, but those steaks and roasts are out, along with breakfast and lunch meats.

The good news is hat the allergy can disappear in some people. The bad news are that it often takes years to go away and in a significant number of people, it never goes away.

I suppose I'm a little surprised by how fast it has spread from the southern plains to the east, even though such a spread was predicted. I guess ticks have been hitching a lot of rides on vehicles.

It's still fairly rare. Just know the danger signs of severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Yes, I want you to look it up.

Bottom line: if you get it, you won't starve. Some substitutes, like chicken and apple and chicken sausage, can be great. You will get enough B-12. Greens will give you plenty of iron. It might even go away, allowing you a ham sandwich, beef steak, or bison burger a few years down the road. Just be aware that this is out there, what the severe symptoms are, and what to do if the worst happens.