Family Reunion Left 3 People Hospitalized With Rare Parasitic Worms, CDC Reports

A South Dakota family reunion where grilled bear meat was served ended with several people being diagnosed as having rare parasitic worms that infect muscle tissue and organs, including the brain, federal health officials revealed last week.

Six people were diagnosed with human trichinellosis, caused by a freeze-resistant roundworm, in July 2022 after eating meat that had been provided by one of the reunion guests who had been hunting in Canada, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in areport released Thursday that urged safe handling and preparation of raw meat.

The meat was frozen for 45 days under the guidance of the hunting outfitter, who said freezing it would kill parasites. It was then made into kebabs and grilled alongside vegetables, but it was unintentionally served not fully cooked because the meat’s dark color made it difficult to tell if it was done, the CDC said.

“After some of the family members began eating the meat and noticed that it was undercooked, the meat was recooked before being served again,” the agency said.

A 29-year-old man who ate the meat later went to a hospital in Minnesota with a fever, severe muscle pain, swelling around his eyes and abnormalities in his blood tests. He sought care for his symptoms four times and was hospitalized twice over a 17-day period.

During his second hospitalization, his health care providers learned that he had eaten wild bear meat, and he was given treatment for the parasite before an antibody test confirmed his infection.

Of the six people showing symptoms, three were hospitalized with abdominal pain, muscle aches and pains, fever, diarrhea and swelling around the eyes. Two people who ate only the vegetables, which are believed to have been