Analysis of ‘undiagnosed neurological illness’ underway, too soon to talk possible source, says doctor

The New Brunswick government has officially entered the data analysis phase of its investigation into undiagnosed neurological symptoms that have impacted hundreds of individuals across seven provinces. Dr. Yves Léger, the chief medical officer of health, made the announcement during a briefing in Fredericton on Thursday, highlighting the progress made in collecting patient data.

The office has received completed enhanced surveillance forms for 222 out of nearly 400 patients from Dr. Alier Marrero, the neurologist who initially raised concerns about a potential mystery disease several years ago. This comprehensive data has paved the way for the next phase of the investigation, with the support of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The investigative process began in early 2023 with the creation of enhanced surveillance forms to gather more detailed information than the standard notification forms could provide. A public report with recommendations is anticipated to be released by the summer, and updates will be regularly shared through a dedicated website.

The initial discovery of patients with symptoms resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in 2021 led to a deeper investigation, which concluded in February 2022 without identifying a common illness. However, a recent letter from Dr. Marrero highlighted a significant increase in patients experiencing unexplained neurological symptoms, with concerns about exposure to herbicides, heavy metals, and autoimmune antibodies.

Patient advocate Stacie Quigley Cormier expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the new investigation, citing the lack of clarity from previous inquiries. She emphasized the importance of addressing environmental factors and autoimmune antibodies in the current investigation to provide meaningful answers to affected individuals and their families.

Dr. Léger defended the previous investigation’s conclusions, stating that the objective was to determine the presence of a common disease among patients. The current investigation is focused on analyzing data related to environmental substances such as heavy metals and pesticides, including glyphosate and glufosinate.

Once the data analysis phase is completed by the end of April, the results will be shared with the Public Health Agency of Canada for scientific review. The province aims to release a comprehensive report with recommended next steps by the end of May, following the combined interpretation of findings from both entities.

Premier Susan Holt reiterated the government’s commitment to responding responsibly to any potential links between the mystery illness and glyphosate. While patients and advocates have called for federal involvement in the investigation, Dr. Léger emphasized New Brunswick’s lead role due to the majority of patients being from the province.

Despite challenges and concerns raised by stakeholders, the government remains dedicated to uncovering the root causes of the neurological symptoms affecting hundreds of individuals. The collaboration between provincial and federal health authorities is crucial in ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation process.