eat Undercooked meat Health officials have warned that toxins ingested from wild game can cause a rare disease called trichinosis.
Six cases of the parasitic disease were reported from multiple families in Arizona, Minnesota, and South Dakota.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the family shared a meal that included undercooked black bear meat.
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“It is extremely important to remember to cook raw meat properly, as undercooked meat can carry trichinosis and other infections. Infection“We’re seeing a lot of cases of the virus in the US,” 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 can cross-contaminate other meats. FoodThe CDC also warned people to be careful about foods that are cooked together, such as vegetables.
According to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, six members of a family became ill after eating undercooked black bear meat (not pictured). (iStock/CDC Center for Global Health, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria)
“People who eat wild meat should be aware that proper cooking is the only reliable way to kill the parasite that causes trichinosis, which is resistant to freezing,” Shama Cash Goldwasser, CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, told Fox News Digital.
The experts shared an overview of cases reported so far and tips to prevent trichinosis.
How did the infection from bear meat come about?
In early July 2022, a 29-year-old man, whose name has not been released, began feeling ill a few days after sharing a meal during a family reunion in South Dakota.
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After returning to Minnesota, he was hospitalized with fever, severe muscle pain, and swelling around his eyes. Blood tests showed he had high levels of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. Worm infection.
The report said the man’s most recent meals included skewers of roasted black bear meat.
of Black Bear The fish was originally harvested by a family member in northern Saskatchewan, Canada in May 2022 and then frozen at an unknown temperature in a home freezer for 45 days.
The bear meat was then thawed and grilled with vegetables and “unintentionally” served rare, according to the report.
Some wild game animals are freeze tolerant, meaning that freezing does not effectively kill all parasites. (iStock)
This man was given a drug called albendazole. AnthelminticsAn antibody blood test confirmed that he was infected with trichinellosis.
The CDC launched an investigation and found that six people who attended the rally, ages 12 to 62, had symptoms consistent with trichinosis.
“Proper cooking is the only sure way to kill the parasite that causes trichinosis.”
Four of the six participants ate both bear meat and vegetables, two ate only vegetables, and three Hospitalizedbut they all recovered.
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The CDC found live parasites in the remaining bear flesh.
Approximately 1% to 24% Black Bear Reports suggest that approximately 70% of Canadian and Alaskan residents are infected with trichinosis.
What is Trichinellosis?
“Trichinosis is a disease caused by a parasite called Trichinella spiralis,” Scott Roberts, M.D., associate medical director for infection prevention at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, told Fox News Digital.
“It is very rare in humans and is associated with eating raw or undercooked meat, especially pork and wild game.”
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Examples of wild animals that can carry the disease include wild boars, ocelots, foxes, wolves, seals and walruses, but the CDC says humans can also become infected through homemade jerky and sausages.
There are about 10,000 cases worldwide each year, but only about 15 cases per year in the United States.
The disease has historically been linked to eating raw pork, but Glatt noted that these outbreaks are declining as a result of improved understanding of proper food preparation methods.
The black bear (not pictured) was originally captured by a family member in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, in May 2022 and was subsequently frozen at an unknown temperature in a home freezer for 45 days. (iStock)
Current Regulations The CDC noted that efforts to raise commercially farmed hogs have also helped reduce the risk of trichinellosis in the United States.
Although infection is rare, it can be contracted after eating even small amounts of raw or undercooked meat, the agency warned.
Symptoms of the disease
The severity of symptoms depends on how much of the parasite was ingested, Roberts told Fox News Digital.
The CDC said that when contaminated meat is consumed, the stomach produces acid, which releases the larvae.
These larvae invade the small intestine, Gastrointestinal symptoms.
Wild game meat must be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe to eat.
After a week, the larvae can travel through the bloodstream and even invade muscles, causing muscle pain, according to the CDC.
“Symptoms can range from no symptoms at all to gastrointestinal issues (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and muscle and joint pain,” Roberts says.
According to the CDC, one of the telltale symptoms is swelling of the face, especially around the eyes.
Symptoms of infection include digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. (iStock)
In rare cases, the parasite can invade the heart, lungs, or brain, causing loss of coordination. Cardiovascular problems Or breathing problems.
In most cases, no treatment is needed, but anti-parasitic therapy may be used in severe cases, Roberts said.
Prevention is key
To prevent trichinosis, the CDC’s Cash Goldwasser recommends cooking wild game 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 hygiene is also recommended, such as separating raw or undercooked meat and its juices from other foods to prevent cross-contamination,” she told Fox News Digital.
To prevent trichinosis, experts recommend cooking wild game to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) and checking the temperature with a meat thermometer. (iStock)
The agency also advises not tasting meat until it is confirmed to be thoroughly cooked, and recommends that pork cuts less than six inches thick be frozen at 5 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 days.
Some wild game animals are freeze-tolerant, so freezing may not effectively kill all parasites.
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According to the CDC, curing, drying, smoking, or microwaving meat does not effectively kill the parasite.
The agency recommended that people always wash their hands with soap and warm water before and after handling raw meat, and remember to thoroughly clean meat grinders and other kitchen utensils after use.
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