In a recent outbreak of trichinellosis, a rare parasitic disease caused by roundworm larvae, six members of a family fell ill after consuming kebabs made from bear meat at a reunion. The incident occurred after one family member brought back the meat from a black bear hunt in northern Canada, which had been frozen for 45 days in a household freezer.

The family prepared kebabs with the thawed bear meat, unaware that the meat was still undercooked as it appeared dark in color. Unfortunately, this unintentional oversight led to the consumption of the rare meat. A week later, a 29-year-old man in Minnesota, who had consumed the bear kebabs, developed symptoms including fever, severe muscle pain, and swelling around the eyes. He was hospitalized twice due to the severity of his symptoms.

It was later confirmed that the man had tested positive for antibodies to Trichinella, the specific roundworm species responsible for trichinellosis. Five other family members also experienced symptoms such as fevers, headaches, stomach pain, diarrhea, muscle pain, and swelling around the eyes. Notably, two individuals who had been exposed did not develop any symptoms, and the exposure status of the ninth person remains unconfirmed by the CDC.

Further investigation revealed that the remaining frozen bear meat contained larvae from the same roundworm species. This led the CDC to conclude that all six affected family members had trichinellosis, a disease caused by consuming undercooked meat contaminated with Trichinella larvae. Trichinellosis outbreaks are rare, with only seven reported in the US involving 35 probable or confirmed cases between January 2016 and December 2022. Most of these outbreaks were linked to bear meat consumption.

It is crucial to note that trichinellosis is distinct from the parasitic infection recently disclosed by presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy's past infection stemmed from pork tapeworm larvae, emphasizing the different sources and manifestations of these parasitic diseases.

Interestingly, two individuals at the family reunion only consumed the grilled vegetables and did not consume any bear meat, yet still contracted the disease. This highlights the possibility of cross-contamination from the Trichinella-infected meat to other foods. To minimize this risk, it is recommended to separate meat and its juices from other foods during cooking.

Out of the six affected family members, three required hospitalization, all of whom had consumed the contaminated bear meat. They received treatment with albendazole, a medication effective in killing parasitic worms and their larvae. Fortunately, all six individuals eventually recovered from the disease.

The CDC report accompanying this outbreak warns that freezing meat may not eliminate all species of Trichinella. In this case, the bear meat was contaminated with a species commonly found in Arctic bears, which is known to be resistant to freezing. Consequently, the report stresses that adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill Trichinella parasites. The CDC recommends cooking wild game meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit, relying on a meat thermometer for accuracy rather than visual cues such as meat color.

This incident serves as a reminder for individuals consuming wild game meat to exercise caution when handling and cooking it. By following proper cooking guidelines, the risk of contracting rare parasitic diseases like trichinellosis can be significantly reduced.