Consuming black bear meat led to parasitic infection for a family.
During the summer of 2022, a family gathering took place, as accounted for in the most recent issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the US Center for Disease Control. This extended family arrived from various parts of the country for a reunion in South Dakota.
One of the family members, a hunting enthusiast, came bearing black bear meat that he had hunted in northern Saskatchewan in May 2022. The hunter had been advised by the hunting outfitter to freeze the meat in order to eliminate any potential parasites.
The meat had been in the freezer for 45 days prior to being thawed. The family proceeded to grill it along with some vegetables, after which they transformed it into kebabs.
Freezing may eliminate certain parasites commonly present in black bears, yet, as per the World Organisation for Animal Health, some species of parasites are capable of enduring freezing conditions.
Bears, as well as other types of wildlife like wild boars, wolves, and squirrels, can develop the severe disease trichinellosis caused by roundworms of the Trichinella genus. These animals often seem healthy, but when they're butchered, it's difficult to discern whether the meat is tainted with these parasites.
Many wildlife experts warn bear hunters that they should consider all bear meat as potentially infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest cooking bear meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the parasites. Smoking, salting, drying, and microwaving these methods do not always eradicate them, experts say.
The reunion's menu initially included meat that was served rare, although the chef's intention was not to do so. The CDC claims some of the family members struggled to determine the correct level of doneness due to the meat's dark color. After some of the guests noticed it was undercooked, they placed it back on the grill before it was served again.
It was not until after the reunion that several attendees experienced sickness.
A 29-year-old man needed to be hospitalized due to extreme muscle pain and a fever. He also developed swollen eyes. Blood tests showed he had eosinophilia, a condition involving excess eosinophils in the body. Doctors linked this discovery to the possibility of trichinellosis.
It was during his second hospital visit that the medical professionals uncovered that he had indeed consumed bear meat, and they suspected he had contracted trichinellosis. His diagnosis was confirmed through lab testing.
This disease's symptoms may range from mild to severe, with the type of symptoms marketed by where the larvae migrate within the body. Those with light infections may not present any noticeable symptoms. Infected individuals may suffer from abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting if the parasites inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. When located in muscles, it may result in fevers, rashes, conjunctivitis, and facial puffiness. Serious complications like heart problems, trouble with the central nervous system, and breathing issues can occur in some cases.
Six out of the eight interviewees exhibited symptoms consistent with trichinellosis, with four having consumed bear meat and vegetables and the other two having only eaten vegetables cooked in the infected meat. Three of the interviewees required hospitalization.
These individuals received treatment with albendazole, an antiparasitic medicine. For those whose symptoms had subsided prior to their diagnosis, they only received supportive care.
During the course of their investigation, the CDC received frozen bear meat samples at their labs, which contained Trichinella larvae. The hunter was reminded to discard any remaining meat. The CDC likewise informed the Public Health Agency of Canada about this outbreak due to the bear being sourced from that nation.
The CDC emphasizes the importance of cooking game meat, especially wild game hunted in northern regions, thoroughly.
Since contaminated meats containing Trichinella can cause cross-contamination to other foods, it's essential that raw meat is stored and prepared separately. The CDC also advises government agencies and private groups involved in or overseeing hunting to educate hunters on these dangers.
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Despite the hunter being advised to freeze the black bear meat to eliminate potential parasites, some species can survive freezing conditions as mentioned by the World Organisation for Animal Health. Additionally, inappropriate cooking of the bear meat led some family members to consume undercooked portions, potentially contributing to the parasitic infection experienced by several attendees.
Source: edition.cnn.com
