Taiwanese Host Hospitalised During Xinjiang Holiday After Eating Yak Hotpot; Suspects It's Due To Eating Undercooked Meat

It makes sense to want to try local delicacies while travelling, but sometimes it does pay to be a little cautious. 

Recently, it was reported that Taiwanese host Li Jing had travelled to Xinjiang, China, where she unexpectedly developed a high fever.

Her temperature was said to have soared to 39°C in the middle of the night, and she was rushed to the emergency room.

On June 2, the 62-year-old host took to social media to recount what happened.

"I believe in karma, I just didn't expect it to come so quickly," she quipped.

She recalled that she had happily posed for photos while riding a white yak and taking in the beautiful lakes and scenery earlier that day. But that same evening, her tour group arranged a meal featuring Xinjiang-style yak hot pot — a signature culinary specialty of the Pamir Plateau region, which she found somewhat ironic and amusing.

Although she felt a little conflicted about eating yak meat after spending time with one earlier that day, she adopted a "when in Rome" attitude and decided to try the local specialty anyway.

What she did not expect was to develop a high fever that very same night.

Li Jing jokingly wondered if she had been "cursed by the little white yak".

However, she subsequently concluded that it was more likely the meat had not been fully cooked, as water boils at a lower temperature in high-altitude areas. The undercooked meat may have led to acute gastroenteritis.

She added that a server had recommended cooking the meat for only 10 seconds for the best texture, and she suspects that may have contributed to her illness.

After arriving at the hospital, she noticed that there were many other patients — whether coincidental or not — suffering from acute gastroenteritis in the emergency department as well.

On top of that, as the day coincided with a Uyghur festival celebration, the hospital was operating with limited staff, and only one nurse was on duty handling numerous patients.

The experience left Li Jing with a deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication of healthcare workers.