New Brunswick’s top doctor says his office has begun the next phase of its investigation into cases of a mysterious brain disease in the province.
Dr. Yves Léger says they have now received 222 individual patient files, which is enough data to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada to analyze the data.
“We know New Brunswickers are concerned about this file, and we are, too,” said Léger, New Brunswick’s chief medical officer of health, during a news conference Thursday morning.
“We want to get answers for these patients. The results of this analysis and scientific investigation will help us to determine what next steps are needed.”
It is estimated 400 New Brunswick residents currently live with the disease, which seems to mostly affect people living in the Acadian Peninsula and Moncton areas.
Provincial health officials first alerted doctors about a growing cluster of people with an undiagnosed neurological illness in 2021.
Public Health studied a group of 48 patients with a range of neurological symptoms, such as memory problems, balance issues, behavioural changes, muscle spasms and bursts of intense pain.
New Brunswick health authorities concluded in a February 2022 report there was no evidence a cluster of cases existed.
At the time, the province said studies showed the patients were likely suffering from known diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and cancer.
However, the province says the referring neurologist raised new concerns, including more patients reporting unusual symptoms, to Public Health in early 2023. Dr. Alier Marrero suggested the illness may have been caused by environmental factors, such as elevated levels of pesticides.
Patients and their families also called on the provincial government to investigate whether there might be a link between their symptoms and environmental toxins, and last year the Liberals campaigned on a promise to reopen the investigation.
Léger says the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Vitalité Health Network have been working together, with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada, to assist the neurologist in collecting and verifying the patient information needed for further investigation.
Léger says the main purpose of the investigation is to better understand the neurologist’s concerns about certain environmental factors.
The next steps include analyzing the patient data and interpreting the analysis. The Public Health Agency of Canada will complete a scientific review and share the findings in a report, which will include recommended next steps.
The investigation is expected to be completed by the summer.
More information, including next steps and timelines, can be found on a website dedicated to the investigation.
With files from The Canadian Press
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