Family Eating Bear Meat Contracts Brain Worm Infection: Trichinellosis
Recent findings reveal that a family consuming bear meat contracted a severe worm infection affecting their brains and hearts. In 2022, members of the family who consumed undercooked black bear meat were diagnosed with trichinellosis, highlighting the risks associated with consuming certain types of wild game meat.
According to USA Today, a large family of 9 individuals consumed a bear hunted by one of the family members in 2022.
Following consumption, one family member experienced severe symptoms such as muscle pain, fever, and swelling around the eyes, leading to hospitalization of a 29-year-old male. After another family member exhibited similar symptoms and was hospitalized, it was determined that the cause of these complaints was the consumption of bear meat.
Consuming undercooked bear meat led to the discovery of brain worms in the affected individuals.
Upon learning about the consumption of undercooked bear meat, doctors diagnosed the patients with 'trichinellosis,' a microscopic parasite worm infection, and administered appropriate treatment. It was noted that these worms can progress in the body, reaching the heart and brain, potentially causing inflammation of the heart muscle and the brain.
Freezing bear meat can kill some worms but not all, as larvae resistant to freezing can evolve and become parasites in the human body.
Symptoms of trichinellosis include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, although these symptoms may vary in different individuals. Additionally, some individuals infected with this disease may not exhibit symptoms due to their immune system's ability to control the parasites.
It is estimated that 24% of black bears in Canada and Alaska are carriers or infected with worms.
Consumption of bears carrying the Trichinella nativa worm, resistant to freezing, poses significant health risks. Between 2016 and 2022, 35 cases of trichinellosis were reported in the United States, highlighting the dangers associated with consuming improperly cooked bear meat.
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