Eating the foods we love, or enjoy shouldn't kill us. And I'm not talking about the slow death from that extra pat of butter, but something a little more direct. A little.
Jayko died a little more than a week ago, and was buried yesterday. This past weekend when I called home I received some news of what caused his death. As I understand it his death was from trichinosis, from eating Walrus.
Up here, most Walrus that is consumed is consumed as Igunaq, or aged Walrus. Igunaq is essentially made by wrapping raw walrus meat and blubber in Walrus hide and burying it until it ages. Now before you pass too much judgment on eating meat that is "bad", think about that slice of cheese that you had today. In essence it is the same process.
The problem that arises however is that occassionaly Walrus carry the round worm Trichinella spiralis, the larva of which, causes the disease know as trichinosis. Most often it is encountered in pork and certain wild meats. You probably recall being admonished to always cook your pork well, trichinosis is the reason. Fortunately it rare, unfortunately not rare enough.
Cooking meats infected with Trichinella spiralis kills them, so does freezing pork. And while igunaq is not cooked it is often frozen, but there is another twist. The species of Trichinella that infects wild meats, such as Walrus is far more resistant to freezing. Freezing igunaq apparently doesn't always kill the parasite.
I'm told that the disease can essentially lay dormant for many many years. Once meat infected with larval cysts is eaten the stomach acids release the larvae. Although they can penetrate any cell, they can only survive in muscle tissues, where they take over or direct a cell in much the same way a virus will. As far as I can tell, while there are medicines to treat the symptoms and some that can kill the adult worms in the intestine, there is currently nothing available to kill the larvae.
In North America the disease is pretty rare. Although with Jayko's death it is small consellation that the annual number of reported cases in the US is around 12 people, death occurrs rarely. Jayko, of course, isn't the only person up here who relishes Walrus. There are many people, including my in-laws. Apparently there are tests to determine infection and there are enough people shaken up by the death that most of them are going to seek out the tests. I know my in-laws have said they are giving up eating any walrus, and igunaq is something that they take great delight in eating.
Incredible that eating something that he greatly enjoyed was able to lay a good man low.
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6 responses
It’s always so sad when you loose someone loved and words of comfort seem so inadequate.
wow, that is sad but now i am wondering if we should eat the polar bear meat we hv in the freezer. i “googled” it and it said to cook thoroughly due to the trich worms..what do you think?
Two years ago in May there was a huge outbreak (epidemiologists term not mine) of trich in CD. At first it semed so odd that so many people were coming to the HC with similiar complaints. Some that mimiced cardiac problems and some obviously gastro intestinal problems.
The common answer to one question provided a ready ( and accurate) diagnosis: have you eaten any country foods lately, specifically marine mammals and especially walrus. They all had. And some had been shared at a bible camp and gone to another community! It was an intensive month of sickness, fears and treatments with the final outcome that no one died. Very, very lucky.
About a month later a community member called one evening to say three walruses had been harvested and I should get down to the beach right away to see. I went and respectfully asked each hunter if I could have a sample of each tongue to send to the lab in Rankin for testing. The bits were tested and all came back negative. But that took five days. The three walrus were mostly long eaten by then. I took the piece we were so generously given and went home and cooked it hard the prescribed one hour.
I know why people prefer it fresh. The cooked meat looked, smelled and tasted awful (to me).
So, it is interesting that while, people do know it can make you deadly sick (and dead) still, it is eaten fresh.
Thanks allmycke.
Aida. The Polar Bear should be alright as long as it is cooked well. Polar Bear is one of the few meats up here that is always cooked. Probably for this very reason.
Thanks for that information Indigo. When I was first looking up information on it I noticed that one site said the disease infected pigs and predatory wild animals. Which surprised me until I thought about it, the muscles would need to be consumed to get the worms. Interestingly, since I’ve been up here, I’ve found out that certain Walrus attack and eat seal. The local knowledge says that you can tell these Walrus because their skin (and meat) looks different, and that they shouldn’t be eaten, as they’ll make you sick. I’m guessing that the disease is the source of that warning.
Interesting that you didn’t like the cooked Walrus. While most people I know eat the Walrus as igunaq, I was told a long time ago that Walrus steak was most excellent barbeque.
Sad posting today, Clare. I’ve enjoyed igunaq in the past and found it to be a real treat much like blue cheese which I love. I ate it knowing the risks, but like your friend, felt the risk was a small one and the reward worthy. I’d do it again…
Very sad Michael. Surprisingly I’ve never had igunaq. Surprisingly as I’m adventurous when it comes to food, and also I’ve heard the blue cheese analogy many times and I love blue cheese. I had determined that I was going to try some next opportunity, but I don’t know if I will now. Like I said, good food shouldn’t kill you.