The meat was initially served rare during a family reunion in South Dakota after being stored frozen for more than a month.
In the latest findings, the CDC noted that the meat from the bear was stored in a freezer for a month and a half.
The meat was then frozen and offered as rare due to its black hue.
The US health body advised: "Cooking meat to an internal temperature of ≥165°F (≥74°C) is necessary to kill Trichinella spp.
Trichinella-infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods, and raw meat should be kept and prepared separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination."
In the United States, six people of the same family caught an infection by a rare roundworm parasite known as trichinellosis after consuming an undercooked meal that included black bear meat, the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said in a release on Thursday.
The meat was initially served rare during a family reunion in South Dakota after being stored frozen for more than a month. The incident took place in the year 2022. However, several investigations later revealed what had exactly happened.
When the incident happened, the Minnesota Department of Health stated that one of the members showed symptoms like high fever, swelling around the eyes, severe muscle soreness and other severe signs. The person received medical attention and was hospitalised multiple times for short periods.
In the latest findings, the CDC noted that the meat from the bear was stored in a freezer for a month and a half. It added that proper procedure was followed to guarantee that it was healthy and worm-free.
The meat was then frozen and offered as rare due to its black hue. However, it was re-cooked and served after family members detected the undercooked taste. The nine-member family then consumed it.
"Persons who consume meat from wild game animals should be aware that adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill Trichinella parasites, and that infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods," the CDC said in the release.
While mentioning the infection, the CDC said that after exposure to gastric acid and pepsin, the larvae are released from the cysts and invade the small bowel mucosa where they develop into adult worms. It added, "Females are 2.2 mm in length; males 1.2 mm. The life span in the small bowel is about four weeks. After one week, the females release larvae that migrate to striated muscles where they encyst."
The US health body advised: "Cooking meat to an internal temperature of ≥165°F (≥74°C) is necessary to kill Trichinella spp. parasites. Trichinella-infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods, and raw meat should be kept and prepared separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination."
