Article By Frank Bergman
Fears are mounting that the rapidly spreading lone star tick, which can trigger a deadly lifelong allergy to red meat, may have been genetically engineered rather than emerging naturally.
Reports of the parasite have been surging across the United States as thousands of Americans are diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome every year.
A bite from the lone star tick can cause the condition, leaving victims fatally allergic to red meat for life.
There is no cure.
The disturbing spread has fueled speculation among online groups and some academics that the tick was genetically altered as a bioweapon.
Some have specifically alleged that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was involved in engineering the parasite to spread alpha-gal syndrome.
At least 15,000 people are now diagnosed with the disease every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, cases are continuing to surge in multiple states.
Viral Experiment Exposes Tick’s Extreme Resilience
The issue exploded across social media after science-based YouTuber Rusty Cage discovered a lone star tick on his body and documented his repeated attempts to kill it over 16 days.
Cage began by submerging the tick in water to determine how long it could survive.
After five days underwater, the parasite was still moving.
By the end of the first week, it had become motionless.
However, when Cage prodded it with tweezers, the tick suddenly revived.
He kept the parasite submerged for nearly two weeks before removing it and concluding that it had finally died.
When Cage blew on it, the tick came back to life again.
On day 15, he placed it inside a freezer for 24 hours.
The tick was not moving when he removed it, although Cage suspected it could revive once again.
Lone Star Ticks Can Survive Weeks Underwater
Research published in ScienceDirect states that an adult lone star tick can survive approximately three weeks underwater.
In its nymphal stage, the parasite can remain alive underwater for as long as 19 weeks.
Every stage of the lone star tick, from nymph to adult, is known to bite humans.
Cornell Cooperative Extension reports that several tick species can survive for months in sub-freezing temperatures.
Research published by the National Library of Medicine found that lone star ticks can survive for more than a week in sub-freezing conditions, depending on their sex and whether they have fed.
Male ticks are generally more resilient than females.
CDC Issues Warning on Disposal
The CDC advises anyone who removes a tick to destroy or contain it immediately.
The agency recommends placing the parasite inside a sealed container, wrapping it tightly in tape, flushing it down a toilet, or submerging it in alcohol.
The lone star tick’s ability to survive extended periods underwater and withstand freezing temperatures has only intensified concerns surrounding the parasite’s rapid spread.
With thousands of Americans developing an incurable and potentially fatal meat allergy every year, questions surrounding the tick’s origins continue to grow.
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