Ten people who got sick last year in western North Carolina after eating undercooked bear meat were likely infected by a parasite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The outbreak, which happened in November 2023, was traced to a gathering where undercooked bear meat was served.
Of the 34 attendees surveyed, 22 reported consuming the meat, and 10 developed symptoms consistent with trichinellosis, the CDC stated.
“Among the 10 probable cases, nine patients had facial swelling, six had myalgia, and four had documented fever,” according to the report.
The median age of those affected was 17 years, with six cases occurring in individuals 18 or younger.
Trichinellosis, also known as trichinosis, is caused by consuming raw or undercooked meat containing Trichinella larvae. While rare in the United States, the disease can be severe and potentially fatal in 0.2 percent of cases, the CDC said.
The North Carolina Division of Public Health initiated an investigation after being alerted to a suspected case on Nov. 29 last year.
According to health officials, the ” index patient,” who is the first person to develop symptoms of an infection, experienced flu-like symptoms and facial swelling, calling for an investigation.
Five patients were tested for antibodies related to the infection, all of which produced negative results. However, the patients didn’t return for additional testing of blood serum—known as convalescent serum—which health officials say is necessary to confirm an infection. They said they classified the cases as probably based on clinical and epidemiological criteria.
The report highlighted the challenges in confirming trichinellosis diagnoses, as “confirming infection through testing of convalescent serum is challenging because acute symptoms have often resolved by the time samples can be collected.”
The outbreak serves as a reminder of the risks associated with consuming undercooked wild game, according to the CDC.
“Because black bears are common hosts for Trichinella spp., communicating methods for properly cooking and preparing wild game meat is important,” they said.
Health officials recommend cooking game meat to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) to kill Trichinella parasites. The CDC warned that “freezing might not be sufficient” to prevent infection.
The report also highlighted treatment challenges, noting that “several patients reported a prohibitively high cost for treatment (approximately $100 per course).”
As thousands of bears are harvested annually in North Carolina, the CDC suggested that “new Trichinella seroprevalence surveys for wild game species might be warranted” to better understand the parasite’s prevalence among wildlife.
They said more education on safe wild game meat preparation is needed, especially in popular hunting areas.