NORTHWEST TERRITORIES - (February 24, 2022) – The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is alerting the public of two recent suspected overdose deaths in the territory. 

NWT’s Coroner’s Office has informed OCPHO on February 24, 2022 that their investigation into two recent deaths leads them to believe that the deaths are due to drug overdoses, potentially from cocaine mixed with other substances.  With Canada experiencing a high number of opioid deaths, the concern is the deaths are due to opioid adulterants.

YELLOWKNIFE – February 18, 2022 – The Chief Environmental Health Officer is advising that 2 dogs from Tuktoyaktuk have recently tested positive for rabies. Another dog has been sent for testing and is presumed positive at this time.

With rabies being found in dogs and foxes in and around Tuktoyaktuk, you are also at risk of being exposed to this fatal disease if you are bitten or scratched or in contact with foxes or dogs in the community.

YELLOWKNIFE – February 3, 2022 - The Chief Environmental Health Officer is advising that 2 dogs from Tuktoyaktuk showing signs of rabies were seen yesterday.

Animals with rabies can have different symptoms, including being fearful, aggressive, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, walking backwards, abnormal vocalizations/moaning, paralysis and seizures. Aggressive behavior is possible, but rabid animals may also often be very shy or calm, and acting or moving strangely.