Public hearing held for Missouri House bill that would require reporting Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A bill that would require Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome to be reported to the Department of Health and Senior Services was passed out of a committee hearing on Thursday.

The bill would require contracted diseases to be reported within seven days.

Alpha-gal syndrome creates a life-threatening allergy to red meat after a person is bit by the Lone Star Tick, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can also trigger allergic reactions to other animal byproducts like daiy.

Missouri House Bill 1855 – sponsored by Re. Matt Overcast (R-Ava) also requires other sampling, surveillance and reporting to the CDC.    

One person who testified at the hearing said this bill would allow experts to know the number of people with this disease and can open the door for funding requests at the federal level.