First case of community acquired giardiasis in Nuuk, Greenland

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Astrid Thomas, Heidi L Enemark, Peter Mogens Poulsen, Michael Lynge Pedersen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021
• Subjects: giardiasis; greenland; community acquired; arctic; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Greenland; Nuuk; Circumpolar Health; Climate change; International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2021.1954363; https://doaj.org/article/1cd4df5d6c33495497d5ab282fb11502

We report a case of community acquired giardiasis, in Nuuk, Greenland. Likely source of infection being consumption of untreated water from a local reservoir, alternatively through contact with sewage. Giardia is widespread worldwide but has not commonly been considered a cause of gastrointestinal distress in patients in Greenland, without relevant travel history. This may be due to under diagnosis, or historically low prevalence of Giardia in the region. Climate change with increasing temperatures, growing tourism and pet travel may influence the presence of Giardia in the region. This case highlights the need to include giardiasis as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with suspected infectious gastroenteritis in Greenland.