CDC links undercooked bear meat to Trichinellosis outbreak in North Carolina

A recent CDC report confirmed that undercooked bear meat served at a November 2023 event in North Carolina caused a Trichinellosis outbreak, affecting at least 10 of the 22 attendees. Symptoms included facial swelling and other severe reactions. Eight of the infected individuals required hospital treatment for symptoms like headaches and nausea. The attendees were from Swain, Cherokee, and Graham counties, with ages ranging from 10 to 40 years old. This incident follows a similar outbreak in May 2024, where six people fell ill after eating undercooked bear kabobs. Trichinellosis cases have been linked to wild game meat, which is becoming more common in North Carolina.