Undercooked Bear Meat in North Carolina Linked to Parasitic Outbreak

A CDC report attributes a trichinellosis outbreak affecting 10 people to undercooked bear meat at a 2023 event.

Trichinellosis, a rare parasitic disease, was identified in 10 attendees of a North Carolina gathering in November 2023.
The infection is caused by consuming undercooked meat with roundworm larvae, commonly found in carnivorous animals like bears.
Symptoms reported by infected individuals included facial swelling, muscle aches, headaches, and fever.
The CDC highlights the importance of cooking wild game meat to at least 165°F to prevent such infections.
Despite the outbreak, no fatalities occurred, and treatment with albendazole was prescribed, though cost was a barrier for some.