- When a friend approached Brent Williams four years ago with a business proposition to start an ostrich farm, he was more than intrigued - he had a personal motivation as someone who developed a life-threatening allergy to red meat, triggered by tick bites.

The problem, known as alpha-gal syndrome, was first linked to a particular species of ticks about 15 years ago.

But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of red meat.