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A congregation in the US state of North Carolina has resulted in 10 cases of a parasitic infection from undercooked bear meat, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The gathering in the western region of the state is now said to be behind the outbreak of trichinellosis. This food-borne disease is caused by eating raw or undercooked meats, infested with the larvae of a type of roundworm called Trichinella, the report said.

CDC says cooking wild meat to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary to kill the parasite.

Out of the 34 people who participated in the gathering, at least 65 per cent reported having eaten bear meat. Among the 10 likely cases, nine patients underwent facial swelling, six others had muscle aches and pains, and four suffered from high fever.

Even though it is rare, trichinellosis is not unheard of in the US. A similar incident happened in 2022 when a family in South Dakota fell severely ill after eating kebabs made of bear meat. The meat had been frozen for more than a month.

According to experts, when you eat food, your stomach acid and enzymes digest what you eat. In the case of infected and undercooked meat, the acid and enzymes break down the hard outside cyst of the larvae, freeing the adult worms, which then produce larvae that take up residence in your body tissues - especially muscle. Anyone can get trichinosis, regardless of age or health status.

The symptoms of trichinosis range from very mild to severe and early symptoms begin a few days after the worms enter your body. These may include:

• Nausea and severe vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach ache
• Muscle soreness
• Fever
• Headaches
• Chills
• Extreme tiredness
• Constipation
• Cough
• Rashes and itchy skin

According to experts, in severe cases, trichinosis causes:

• Difficulty with coordination and movement
• Inflammation of your heart muscles
• Difficulty breathing
• Inflammation in your brain

Experts say the symptoms usually last from five to 45 days, but they begin to appear 10 to 15 days after consuming the infected meat. Abdominal symptoms also occur much sooner, one to two days after infection. Milder cases of trichinosis are often mistaken for the flu or other common illnesses. In extreme cases, trichinosis can also result in death.

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