Bear meat for dinner? Follow These Steps to Prevent Parasitic Infections, Says the CDC

Eat undercooked meat from wild game can cause a rare disease known as trichinellosis, health officials have warned.

Six cases of the parasitic disease have been reported by multiple family members in Arizona, Minnesota and South Dakota.

Family members shared a meal that included undercooked meat from a black bear, as reported in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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“It is extremely important to remember to cook any raw meat thoroughly, as undercooked meat has the potential for trichinosis and other diseases. Infectious diseases” Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

Meat containing Trichinella worms can also contaminate others foodstuffslike vegetables, which are cooked alongside, the CDC warned.

“People who eat wild game meat should be aware that proper cooking is the only reliable way to kill the parasites that cause trichinellosis, which can resist freezing,” said Shama Cash-Goldwasser, head of the epidemic intelligence service at the CDC. Fox News Digital.

The experts shared a summary of cases reported so far as well as tips for preventing trichinellosis.

How did the bear meat infection occur?

In early July 2022, a 29-year-old man, whose name was not shared, began feeling ill days after sharing a meal at a family reunion in South Dakota.

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He was hospitalized upon his return to Minnesota, complaining of a fever, severe muscle pain and swelling around his eyes. Blood tests have revealed high levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that can indicate a worm infection.

The man’s most recent meal included skewers made from black bear meat, according to the report.

THE black bear was originally harvested by one of the family members in northern Saskatchewan, Canada in May 2022 and then frozen in a home freezer for 45 days at an unknown temperature.

The bear meat was then thawed, grilled with vegetables and “inadvertently” served rare, according to the report.

The man was treated with albendazole, a antiparasitic medicine. An antibody blood test confirmed he had trichinellosis.

The CDC launched an investigation and found that six people attending the gathering – ages 12 to 62 – had symptoms consistent with trichinellosis.

“Proper cooking is the only reliable way to kill the parasites that cause trichinellosis.”

Of the six people, four had eaten both bear meat and vegetables, but two had only eaten vegetables. Three were hospitalizedbut all recovered.

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The CDC found live worms in leftover bear meat.

About 1% to 24% of black bears in Canada and Alaska are infected with trichinellosis, according to the report.

What is trichinellosis?

“Trichinellosis is a disease caused by a parasitic worm called Trichinella,” Scott Roberts, MD, associate medical director of infection prevention at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, told Fox News Digital.

“It is very rare in humans and associated with the consumption of raw and undercooked meats, particularly pork and wild game.”

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Examples of wild game that can cause illness include wild boar, wild cat, fox, wolf, seal or walrus – but people can also become infected through dried meat and homemade sausages, according to the CDC.

There are about 10,000 cases worldwide each year, but only about 15 cases in the United States per year.

The illness has historically been associated with eating raw pork, but a better understanding of proper food preparation has reduced these cases, Glatt noted.

Current regulations Raising commercially farmed pigs has also helped reduce the risk of trichinellosis in the United States, the CDC noted.

Although the infection is rare, it is possible after eating even a small amount of raw or undercooked meat, the agency warned.

Symptoms of the disease

The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of parasite ingested, Roberts told Fox News Digital.

Once contaminated meat is consumed, the stomach produces acid that causes the larvae to be released, the CDC said.

These larvae then invade the small intestine, which can cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Wild game meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure safe consumption.

After a week, the larvae move through the bloodstream, sometimes entering muscles, which can cause muscle pain, according to the CDC.

“Symptoms can range from no symptoms at all to gastrointestinal issues (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and muscle/joint pain,” Roberts said.

A characteristic symptom is swelling of the face, especially around the eyes, according to the CDC.

Sometimes the worms can also travel to the heart, lungs, or brain, which can cause coordination problems. cardiovascular problems or breathing problems.

Most cases will not require treatment, but antiparasitic treatment may be given if symptoms are severe, Roberts said.

Prevention is key

To prevent trichinellosis, the CDC’s Cash-Goldwasser recommends cooking wild game meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) and checking the temperature with a meat thermometer.

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“Safe handling Raw meat, including separating raw or undercooked meat and its juices from other foods, is also recommended to avoid cross-contamination,” she told Fox News Digital.

The agency also advises against tasting the meat until it’s completely cooked — and recommends freezing pork less than six inches thick for 20 days at 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some wild game is frost-resistant, meaning frost may not effectively kill all worms.

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According to the CDC, salting, drying, smoking, or microwaving meat does not effectively kill worms.

People should always remember to wash their hands with soap and warm water before and after handling raw meat – and clean meat grinders and all other kitchen items thoroughly after each use, advised the agency.

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