Trichinella alert for Sanikiluaq

September 18, 2015

The Department of Health is advising residents of Sanikiluaq that a walrus harvested on September 8, 2015 has tested positive for trichinella.

If you have eaten any uncooked walrus recently, and have experienced stomach pain, muscle pain, diarrhea, swollen eyelids, sweating and weakness, you might be infected with trichinella, the parasite that causes worm disease.

Let your health care provider know that you ate uncooked walrus if you have any of these symptoms.

Meat must be thoroughly cooked before eating so you don’t get sick. Freezing or fermenting does not kill the worms. Do not eat or feed infected meat to animals as they can also get sick.

Testing your walrus will prevent anyone from getting trichinosis. Before eating walrus that someone else caught, ask if it has been tested.

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Media Contact:

Ron Wassink

A/Manager, Communications and Public Relations

Department of Health

867-975-5710

rwassink@gov.nu.ca

NT4