Seal meat still safe to eat despite a dozen trichinella illnesses in Nunavik, say officials

Public health officials in Nunavik say a dozen people became sick with trichinellosis recently after eating seal meat, in what officials say are the first such cases in the region.

"We've never found anyone getting sick from seal meat before, ever, in Nunavik," ​said Elena Koneak-Labranche, assistant to the public health director in the region. 

Twelve people became sick in two different communities throughout January and February. One person was sent to hospital. They all had eaten seal meat. 

"We didn't really believe it, that seal meat would be the cause because we eat seal meat all the time," Koneak-Labranche, who is based in Kuujjuaq, Que., said. 

She said walrus meat is regularly tested for the parasite because that is where it's usually found. Koneak-Labranche
noted that public health officials eventually tracked down cases in Alaska of bearded seals and ring seals which show they can also become infected with the parasite.

Officials encourage people to still eat seal meat

"I don't want people to be afraid of it, it's part of our culture, we eat this stuff all the time. Like I said, maybe it's just a fluke, it's a one-time thing," she said. 

We've never found anyone getting sick from seal meat before, ever, in Nunavik- Elena Koneak-Labranche

Koneak-Labranche said there are many reasons to continue eating the meat, a traditional mainstay of Inuit diet.

"It's good for the body. Good energy-giving, stops the anemia," she said. 

"We've been telling people if you're worried about it, cook it properly, but don't start changing your whole diet because of this."

Boiling meat will kill the parasite, but freezing it will not.

Koneak-Labranche says public health officals will be monitoring the situation. If people are worried, they can have their seal meat tested if they send in samples in the same way they do for walrus.