Family Reunion Turns Dangerous After Black Bear Meal Causes Illness

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In the summer of 2022, a family of nine gathered in South Dakota for a reunion. They prepared a meal featuring black bear kebabs, using meat hunted in Canada. However, several family members fell ill after consuming the meal with flu-like symptoms. While three experienced mild symptoms, another three were hospitalized, including a 29-year-old man who had severe symptoms like fever and muscle pain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated the incident and found roundworm larvae in the bear meat, identifying the parasite as Trichinella nativa, which can survive freezing temperatures. Although only two individuals tested positive for trichinosis, four others likely had the infection based on clinical and epidemiological criteria.

The CDC suggested that the vegetables served may have been contaminated by the bear meat, possibly due to undercooking and cross-contamination. The incident highlights the importance of thoroughly cooking wild game to an internal temperature above 74°C (165°F) to kill parasites, as freezing or barbecuing may not be sufficient. The warning is particularly relevant to communities in northern Saskatchewan, where similar infections have occurred.