Roundworm infection in family acquired from undercooked bear kebabs, with potential migration to brain | US News

A group of individuals experienced roundworm infections after consuming undercooked bear meat at a family gathering.

In July 2022, the Minnesota Department of Health was informed about a 29-year-old man who had visited the hospital multiple times in a two-and-a-half-week period with symptoms such as fever, severe muscle pain, and swollen eyes, among others.

After his second visit, the man revealed to doctors that he had attended a family reunion in South Dakota where they enjoyed black bear meat kebabs sourced from a family member in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The meat had been stored in a freezer for six weeks before being thawed for the meal.

Due to its dark appearance, the meat was mistakenly served rare initially before being recooked once diners noticed, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Nine family members, mostly from Minnesota but also from South Dakota and Arizona, partook in the meal, with some opting for only vegetables that were cooked along with the meat.

The 29-year-old was diagnosed with trichinellosis, a rare roundworm infection in humans often acquired through consuming wild game.

Once inside a human host, the larvae can migrate through the body to muscle tissue and organs, including the brain.

Five other family members tested positive for the worms, including a 12-year-old girl and two individuals who had consumed only the vegetables.

Three family members required hospitalization and were treated with albendazole.

Albendazole, as per the Mayo Clinic, inhibits the worms from absorbing sugar, causing them to lose energy and eventually die.

The CDC states that cooking meat to an internal temperature of at least 74C is the only way to ensure trichinella parasites are destroyed.

It is estimated that up to one-quarter of black bears in Canada and Alaska may be infected.