title: Novel prevention program for trichinellosis in inuit communities.
abstract: Repeated outbreaks of trichinellosis caused by the consumption of Trichinella-infected walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) meat, which have sometimes led to serious morbidity, have stimulated Inuit communities in Nunavik (northern Quebec), Canada, to develop an innovative trichinellosis prevention program. The program involves preconsumption testing of meat samples from harvested walrus at a regional laboratory and the rapid dissemination of the results of such testing to communities. Local health authorities in Inukjuak conducted an epidemiological investigation after testing identified Trichinella-positive walrus meat in September 1997. This report describes the events that occurred before, during, and after the trichinellosis outbreak and also documents how the prevention program contributed to successful resolution of the outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada, J0M 1C0. jfproulx@cspq.qc.ca
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Proulx
authors.forename: J Dick
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: Theresa W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Gyorkos
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leclair
authors.forename: Anne-Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Bouchra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Serhir
authors.forename: Lorry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Alvin A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gajadhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D014234:Trichinella; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014856:Walruses / Q000469:parasitology