The “bullies of the tick world” are on the hunt

How do products end up on big box shelves? Well, we at Planet Money pitch the Planet Money board game. I'm trying not to think how much of a big deal it is and how much work has gone into it. It's really big. Is it helpful if I remind you how big it is?

It's sort of the whole thing. We go inside the minds of the people who decide what goes on store shelves. Listen to Planet Money on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is fresh air, I am Terry Gross. As you head out to summer barbecues, picnics, hikes, and other great summer activities, you may already be vigilant about ticks because of Lyme disease, but there is a potentially more dangerous tick that you may not be aware of called the Lone Star, and unlike other ticks, it actively pursues its hosts.

The Lone Star is spreading across vast regions of the US, and the illness it carries, the Alpha Gal syndrome, is spreading in more than 30 countries on six continents, often spread by various other ticks. The Alpha Gal syndrome is more difficult to diagnose and treat than Lyme disease, and the symptoms are more severe. In many cases, the victim develops an allergy to all red meat, including nearly microscopic particles of it. The allergy can become so extreme it can kill you.

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