Trichinella alert for Pond Inlet

Press Release

12 October 2022

The Department of Health is advising residents of Pond Inlet that a Killer Whale harvested on October 10, 2022, has tested positive for trichinella.

If you have eaten any uncooked Killer Whale recently, and have experienced stomach pain, muscle pain, diarrhea, swollen eyelids, sweating or weakness, you might be infected with trichinella. Let your health care provider know that you ate uncooked Killer Whale if you have any of these symptoms.

Testing your meat will prevent anyone from getting trichinosis. Before eating meat that someone else caught, ask if it has been tested. Freezing or fermenting meat will not kill trichinella; it can only be killed by cooking.

Hunters who get their meat tested are protecting their communities. You can only determine if meat is safe to eat by having the animal tested. The Department of Health encourages and thanks those hunters who opt to have their meat tested for trichinella.

If you have questions or want to learn more on testing, contact an Environmental Health Officer at 867-975-1163.

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Media Contact:

Danarae Sommerville
Communications Specialist
Department of Health
867-975-5712
dsommerville1@gov.nu.ca

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