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Nunavut health authorities are warning hunters in the hamlet of Naujaat that a walrus harvested in the community earlier this month has tested positive for a dangerous parasite.
In a release sent Friday, the Department of Health said a walrus hunted on Aug. 10 had tested positive for trichinella, a type of roundworm.
If ingested, trichinella can cause stomach pain, muscle pain, diarrhea, swollen eyelids, sweating and weakness.
Anyone with these symptoms after eating uncooked walrus is advised to seek medical attention.
Trichinella can only be detected through testing, so health authorities are also advising hunters to have any walrus meat tested before consuming it.
“Hunters who get their meat tested are protecting their communities,” the release reads. “Any walrus could have trichinella.
“Before eating walrus that someone else caught, ask if it has been tested,” it reads.
Freezing or fermenting meat does not kill the parasite. It can only be killed through cooking.
The release advises anyone handling uncooked walrus to thoroughly wash and sanitize any utensils that come in contact, and avoid feeding uncooked walrus meat to pets.