06/03/25 Public Health Education Topic: Trichinosis

Per CDC:

Key points

• People who eat raw or undercooked meat from certain animals can get trichinellosis.

• Trichinellosis is a rare disease in the United States, and the risk of getting it is low.

• Trichinellosis symptoms can be mistaken for flu symptoms.

• Cooking meat to safe temperatures prevents trichinellosis.

Overview

Trichinellosis is an infection caused by the larvae of a parasitic worm. Parasites are living things that live on or inside other living things. People get trichinellosis, or trichinosis, after eating raw or undercooked meat that contains the parasite. Usually, meat contaminated with the Trichinella larvae comes from meat-eating animals such as bear, wild boar, or walrus.

Trichinellosis is a rare disease in the United States, with only about 15 confirmed cases per year. Worldwide, there are about 10,000 recorded cases per year. Trichinellosis can cause severe symptoms.

In the past, people in the U.S. often got the disease from eating undercooked or raw pork containing the larvae. Modern regulations on raising commercially farmed pigs and cooking guidelines for pork have helped to lower the risk of trichinellosis in this area.

Signs and symptoms

The signs, symptoms, severity, and duration of trichinellosis can vary. Symptoms often start with

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Tiredness

• Fever

• Abdominal (belly) discomfort

  
  

Symptoms can then progress to include

• Headache

• Fever

• Chills

• Cough

• Swelling of the face and eyes

• Aching joints and muscle pain

• Itchy skin

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

  
  

If the infection is heavy, you may have trouble coordinating movements, and have heart and breathing problems. Severe cases can cause death.

Risk factors

The risk of getting trichinellosis in the U.S. is very low. People who eat raw or undercooked pork or wild game, in particular, bear, wild boar, wildcat, fox, wolf, seal, or walrus are at risk of getting trichinellosis. Even tasting small amounts of such meat while it's raw or undercooked (like tasting the meat during preparation) puts you at risk for infection with Trichinella worms.

Homemade jerky and sausage made of these meats can also be sources for trichinellosis.

To learn more visit: About Trichinellosis | Trichinellosis (Trichinosis) | CDC