Trichinella alert for Rankin Inlet

Public Health Advisory

Trichinella alert for Rankin Inlet

The Department of Health is advising residents of Rankin Inlet that a walrus tongue 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.

Testing your walrus will prevent anyone from getting trichinella. Before eating walrus 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.

If you have questions or want to learn more, contact Gary Nelson (Environmental Health Officer) at 867-645-6660.

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Media Contact:

Scott Hitchcox
Communications Specialist
Department of Health
867-975-5712
@email