The Nunavut Department of Health has announced a warning to residents of Kugaaruk and Whale Cove following the notification of rabies cases to both communities following the fox attacks.
Kugaaruk’s dog was slaughtered after killing a fox showing signs of rage, while the Whale Cove case comes from a positive sample of a dog that had died after a separate fox attack.
Pets that spend time tied to the outdoors should be monitored for changes in behavior and signs of rabies. If you have been bitten or scratched by a fox or a dog, you should go to your local health center to report the incident immediately. Treatment should be started quickly after exposure, as rabies infections are almost always fatal.
Symptoms of rabies include fluttering, foaming at the mouth, suffocation, or strange behavior / noise.
If you see a fox or wolf wondering about the community, please contact your local conservation officer at 867-769-7011 (Kugaaruk) or 867-896-9189 (Whale Cove). If your dog has been in contact with a fox or wolf, call the Regional Environmental Health Officer at 867-983-4326 (Kitikmeot) or 867-645-8071 (Kivalliq).