PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - ECU football officially starts Thursday night, and tailgating is a pirate tradition!

With temperatures climbing and food often left out for hours, that pregame party can take a turn if you’re not careful.

Jordan Horne, Pitt County Environmental Health Program Specialist, told WITN, “Tailgating season is typically some hot weather involved in there, large crowds, lack of refrigeration, and lack of handwashing ability.”

From cross-contamination and spoiled meats, improper food handling can lead to foodborne illnesses, and those don’t wait until halftime.

“Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever. This can happen hours to even days after the exposure to the bacteria,” Horne said.

To avoid such issues, the USDA says to:

Clean hands and surfaces with soap, water,

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