A gathering in the US state of North Carolina has resulted in 10 cases of parasite infection from undercooked bear meat, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Crowds are now being held responsible for the spread of trichinellosis in the western region of the state. This food-borne disease is caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, which is infected with the larvae of a type of roundworm. Trichinella, The report said.

The CDC says it’s necessary to cook wild meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill parasites.

Of the 34 people who attended the meeting, at least 65 percent said they had eaten bear meat. Of the 10 probable cases, nine patients had facial swelling, six others had muscle pain and four had high fever.

Trichinellosis is not unheard of in America

Although it is rare, trichinellosis is not unheard of in the US. A similar incident occurred in 2022 when a family in South Dakota fell seriously ill after eating kebabs made from bear meat. The meat had been frozen for more than a month.

How is trichinellosis spread,

According to experts, when you eat food, your stomach acids and enzymes digest the food you eat. In the case of infected and undercooked meat, the acids and enzymes break down the hard outer cysts of the larvae, freeing the adult worms, which then produce larvae that take up residence in your body’s tissues – especially muscles. Anyone can get trichinosis, regardless of age or health status.

Signs and symptoms of trichinellosis

Symptoms of trichinosis range from very mild to severe and the initial symptoms begin a few days after the worms enter your body. These may include:

• nausea and severe vomiting
• Diarrhea
• stomach pain
• muscle pain
• Fever
• Headache
• feeling cold
• extreme fatigue
• constipation
• cough
• rashes and itchy skin

According to experts, in severe cases, trichinosis causes:

• Difficulty with coordination and movement
• inflammation of your heart muscle
• difficulty breathing
• swelling in your brain

Experts say symptoms usually last five to 45 days, but they begin to appear 10 to 15 days after eating infected meat. Stomach symptoms also appear very quickly, one to two days after infection. Mild cases of trichinosis are often mistaken for the flu or other common illnesses. In extreme cases, trichinosis can even result in death.

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