Coral Harbour caribou tests positive for rabies

Press Release

June 3, 2025

The Department of Health is advising residents of Coral Harbour that the sample from a caribou that was seen attacking heavy equipment and died on April 9 has tested positive for rabies. Caribou rarely get rabies.

If you must put down an animal, use precaution and avoid handling its carcass. Due to the danger of rabies, the Department of Health advises to dispose of any meat harvested from an animal that has or is suspected to have rabies. Avoid eating this meat and do not feed this meat to dogs.

If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal infected by rabies, please go to your local health centre and report the incident immediately. Treatment must be started quickly after exposure, as rabies infections are almost always fatal.

Domestic animals that spend time tied up outdoors should be monitored for a change in behaviour and signs of rabies.

Signs of rabies include behaving strangely, aggressively, staggering, frothing at the mouth, choking or making strange noises. Wild animals infected with rabies may also appear friendly and approach humans without fear. Animals exhibiting these signs should be avoided and reported to the Environmental Health Office (EHO) or Conservation Officer (CO) at 866-857-4444.

Contact

Charmaine Deogracias
Manager of Communications
Department of Health
867-975-5712
cdeogracias@gov.nu.ca

ILR4