<i>Notes from the Field:</i> Suspected Outbreak of Trichinellosis Associated with Undercooked Bear Meat — North Carolina, November 2023

Trichinella spp.nematodes are complex life cycle parasites that can cause trichinellosis (also called trichinosis) when humans consume undercooked or raw meat harboring dormant larvae (1).Trichinellosis is rare in the United States, largely as a result of changes in pig-raising practices, with most recently reported cases being associated with consumption of wild game meat (2).Signs and symptoms include myalgia and fever in 54% of cases and facial swelling in 42% (2).Timely identification is important because trichinellosis can be severe; 0.2% of cases are fatal (1).On November 29, 2023, the North Carolina Division of Public Health was alerted to a suspected case of trichinellosis in western North Carolina.The index patient experienced influenza-like signs and symptoms and facial swelling.Further investigation linked this patient to a gathering in early November where undercooked bear meat was served.