Trichinella alert for Cape Dorset

Public Health Advisory

Trichinella alert for Cape Dorset

The Department of Health is advising residents of Cape Dorset that a walrus has tested positive for trichinella. The walrus was caught approximately 10 days ago.

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

You should go to the health centre if you ate uncooked walrus and have any of these symptoms.

Do not eat uncooked walrus unless the tongue has been tested for trichinella. Freezing or fermenting walrus will not kill trichinella; it can only be killed by cooking.

A fact sheet on trichinosis can be found on the Department of Health’s website: https://www.gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/country_food_fact_sheets_trichinosis_gn_en.pdf

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Media Contact:

Jordan Konek
Media Specialist
Department of Health
867-975-5949
@email