Pangnirtung clams harmless, Nunavut government says

Clams and scallops harvested near Pangnirtung are safe to eat, the Government of Nunavut said Aug. 7.

The GN issued the statement after testing clams, scallops and water from around Pangnirtung.

“The results of the tests did not find anything that indicated any ongoing risk to the people at this time,” the GN said.

That means the GN has lifted a health advisory first issued June 25 and renewed July 19.

That occurred after some people in Pangnirtung complained of mild symptoms such as facial swelling, tingling, and itchy rashes, which they claimed had been caused by eating clams.

No one required hospital care and they were all able to go to work.

After interviewing people in Pangnirtung who displayed those symptoms, the health department was not able to pinpoint a cause, the GN said.