Teenager dies from tick-induced meat allergy (MMA/Alpha Gal Syndrome) in Australia
Consensus Summary
A 16-year-old boy named Jeremy Webb died in 2026 after collapsing during a camping trip on Australia’s Central Coast, where he and friends ate sausages and marshmallows. An inquest later revealed his death was caused by anaphylaxis from Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA), a tick-induced condition triggered by alpha-galactose in mammalian products like meat, dairy, and gelatin. Initially misdiagnosed as asthma, Jeremy’s case highlights a rising health concern: over 5,000 Australians now live with MMA, with cases surging 22% annually since 2020. Sydney’s northern beaches and the Central Coast are identified as global hotspots for the disease, linked to bites from the Eastern Paralysis tick. Professor Sheryl Van Nunen, who discovered the connection in 2007, confirmed MMA as the cause after detecting alpha-gal antibodies in Jeremy’s blood. His parents, who noticed tick bites and symptoms from age 7, now advocate for public awareness campaigns to prevent future tragedies, emphasizing the need for better medical recognition of the allergy.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Jeremy Webb, 16, died on a Central Coast camping trip in 2026 after eating sausages and marshmallows, collapsing from anaphylaxis
- An inquest in February 2026 ruled Jeremy’s death was caused by anaphylaxis due to Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA), not asthma
- MMA is triggered by alpha-galactose, a carbohydrate in mammalian meat, dairy, and gelatin, and is linked to bites from the Eastern Paralysis tick
- Professor Sheryl Van Nunen discovered the link between MMA and the Eastern Paralysis tick in 2007 after patients on Sydney’s northern beaches presented with allergic reactions
- Jeremy’s parents, Myfanwy and Jonathan Webb, noticed tick bites from age 7 and symptoms like nausea after red meat by age 10, initially attributing them to asthma
- Jeremy was hospitalized twice before his death for anaphylaxis symptoms, but doctors dismissed MMA as the cause, focusing on asthma
- CSIRO reports over 5,000 Australians live with MMA, with case numbers rising 22% year-on-year since 2020, and Sydney’s north/Central Coast identified as global hotspots
- Van Nunen identified alpha-gal antibodies in Jeremy’s blood during autopsy, confirming MMA as the cause
- The Webb family and Van Nunen urge governments to launch public awareness campaigns about tick bites and MMA, comparing the need to ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ messaging
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The article is published under the SMH masthead, owned by Nine, which also owns 60 Minutes where Van Nunen’s quote was sourced.
- The article is published under THEAGE masthead, also owned by Nine, with identical content to SMH.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources; all factual claims are identical.
Source Articles
Jeremy, 16, died from a tick-induced meat allergy. Sydney’s north is a global hotspot for the disease
Sydney’s northern beaches and the Central Coast have become global hotspots for a disease that Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, warns is on the rise and a “significant health concern”.
Jeremy, 16, died from a tick-induced meat allergy. Sydney’s north is a global hotspot for the disease
Sydney’s northern beaches and the Central Coast have become global hotspots for a disease that Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, warns is on the rise and a “significant health concern”.