Nine Family Members Infected with Rare Parasitic Disease from Undercooked Bear Meat

South Dakota, South Dakota, USA United States of America
Bear meat at family gathering was contaminated with a freeze-resistant species, trichinella nativa
Bear meat at family gathering was initially served rare due to its dark color making it difficult for family members to visually ascertain doneness
CDC advises adequate cooking as only reliable way to kill Trichinella parasites and infected meat should not be consumed raw or undercooked
CDC reported symptoms including fever, muscle pain, periorbital edema, and other laboratory abnormalities for some family members
Nine family members infected with trichinellosis
Source of infection was undercooked bear meat
Trichinellosis is a rare disease in the US with most cases linked to consumption of wild game, particularly bear meat
Two family members who ate only vegetables did not develop symptoms but may have been cross-contaminated during preparation
Up to one-quarter of black bears in Canada and Alaska could be infected with Trichinella parasites. Hunters advised to properly cook wild game meat before consumption.
Nine Family Members Infected with Rare Parasitic Disease from Undercooked Bear Meat

A family gathering in South Dakota resulted in nine people from three different states becoming infected with trichinellosis, a parasitic disease caused by consuming undercooked or raw meat contaminated with Trichinella parasites. The source of the infection was bear meat that had been frozen for over a month before being served as kebabs.

According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one family member, a 29-year-old man from Minnesota, was hospitalized with symptoms including fever, severe muscle pain, periorbital edema (swelling around the eyes), and other laboratory abnormalities. Five other family members also developed symptoms such as fever, headache, stomach pain, diarrhea, muscle pain and swelling around the eyes.

Two family members who ate only vegetables did not develop symptoms but health officials believe that the meat may have cross-contaminated other food during preparation.

Trichinellosis is a rare disease in the United States and most cases are linked to consumption of wild game, particularly bear meat. From January 2016 to December 2022, there were seven trichinellosis outbreaks in the US involving 35 probable or confirmed cases.

The CDC advises that adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill Trichinella parasites and infected meat should not be consumed raw or undercooked. The bear meat at the family gathering was initially served rare, reportedly because it was dark in color, making it difficult for family members to visually ascertain the level of doneness.

The CDC also warns that freezing meat won't kill all species of Trichinella and that proper cooking is essential. The bear meat at the family gathering was contaminated with a freeze-resistant species, trichinella nativa.

It is important to note that up to one-quarter of black bears in Canada and Alaska could be infected with Trichinella parasites. Hunters are advised to properly cook wild game meat before consumption.



Confidence

95%

Doubts
  • Was the bear meat definitely frozen for over a month before being served?
  • Were all nine family members infected at the same gathering or was it spread out over time?
  • Were there any other potential sources of infection besides the bear meat?

Sources

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Six people were diagnosed with trichinellosis after consuming black bear meat kebabs.
    • The patients' symptoms included fever, muscle aches, eye swelling, and elevated levels of eosinophils.
    • Trichinellosis is caused by the larvae of trichinella, a freeze-resistant roundworm found in carnivorous animals like bears.
    • Adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill trichinella parasites, and infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods.
    • From January 2016 to December 2022, there were seven trichinellosis outbreaks in the US, including three that involved bear meat.
  • Accuracy
    • Nine family members were infected with brain worms after consuming undercooked bear meat.
    • A family of six people got trichinellosis, also known as ‘brain worms’, after eating undercooked bear meat.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

88%

  • Unique Points
    • Nine family members were infected with brain worms after consuming undercooked bear meat at a family gathering in South Dakota.
    • Three of the affected family members only consumed vegetables at the meal, but health officials believe the meat may have cross-contaminated other food.
    • One family member was hospitalized with symptoms of trichinellosis, a roundworm infection caused by consuming undercooked or raw meat contaminated with Trichinella parasites.
    • Up to one-quarter of black bears in Canada and Alaska could be infected with Trichinella parasites.
  • Accuracy
    • The bear meat had been frozen for over a month before being prepared and served as kebobs.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in the way it presents the story and omits important details. It implies that freezing meat for over a month will kill all parasites, but later states that the larvae detected in the meat are freeze-resistant. This can mislead readers into thinking that freezing meat is a foolproof method of killing parasites. Additionally, it does not mention any potential conflicts of interest or affiliations of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is cited as having cognitive issues due to a parasitic worm eating part of his brain.
    • The CDC report notes, however, that the larvae and worms later detected in the meat and family members are freeze-resistant.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • A family of six people got trichinellosis after eating undercooked bear meat.
    • The bear meat was initially served rare and then recooked when it was noticed that it wasn’t fully cooked.
    • Trichinellosis is a parasitic infection caused by roundworm larvae that enter the lymphatic circulation and blood, reaching skeletal muscles, myocardium, and brain.
    • A 29-year-old man fell ill a week after consuming the bear meat and was hospitalized twice in a 17-day period with symptoms including fever, severe myalgias (muscle aches and pains), periorbital edema (swelling around the eyes), and other laboratory abnormalities.
    • Two more family members were hospitalized but all six symptomatic persons recovered.
    • Bear meat is the suspected or confirmed source of infection in most trichinellosis outbreaks in the US since 2016.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • In July 2022, a case of human trichinellosis was reported to the Minnesota Department of Health.
    • Six cases of human trichinellosis were identified in the group who consumed the bear meat.
    • Motile freeze-resistant Trichinella nativa larvae were identified in remaining meat frozen for over 15 weeks.
  • Accuracy
    • Six people were diagnosed with trichinellosis after consuming bear meat.
    • The bear meat had been frozen for 45 days before being grilled and served rare.
    • Trichinella-infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Six family members fell ill with trichinellosis after consuming undercooked bear meat at a reunion.
    • One family member, a 29-year-old man from Minnesota, was hospitalized twice for symptoms including fever and muscle pain.
    • Two family members who ate only vegetables did not develop symptoms.
  • Accuracy
    • The illness was caused by roundworm larvae found in the bear meat.
    • Five other family members also experienced symptoms such as headache, stomach pain, diarrhea, and swelling around the eyes.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication