(410 ILCS 465/5)

Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a tick bite. AGS is named for a molecule, known as alpha-gal or the Galili antigen, that is found in most mammals. Symptoms of AGS occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other products made from mammals. Because of this, AGS is also known as the red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified AGS as a growing threat to clinical and public health and has identified state-level surveillance of AGS as a critical need. The CDC has identified Illinois as a state with one of the highest AGS prevalence rates in the nation.

(Source: P.A. 104-53, eff. 8-1-25.)