Canada - New Brunswick monitoring more than 48 cases (10 fatal) of unknown neurological disease - 2015+ - officials say illnesses are due to unrelated known causes

[alert]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/marrero-nb-mind-clinic-1.6534670

Moncton neurologist sidelined from brain disease probe will soon be gone from MIND clinic

Dr. Alier Marrero raised alarm bells about patients with unusual, progressive neurological symptoms

[snip]

(Read the whole article. It mentions a pair of possibly linked cases that we hadn't seen before in this thread, a man and his step-daughter, where the younger patient's illness is thought to be the result of a concussion.)

[yielddude]

‘Mysterious’ brain disorder strikes hundreds — and cases are increasing

Across the Canadian province of New Brunswick, the number of people afflicted by a mysterious, potentially deadly brain ailment keeps growing.

Neurological symptoms like hallucinations, muscle wasting, vision problems, memory loss, and abnormal movements were seen in 2015 in a small cluster of patients, eventually growing to 48 cases.

But some health experts and local residents say the number of people with the condition is much higher — and may exceed 200.

In addition, an unusual number of those cases are in young people, who do not typically show dementia-like symptoms or signs of other neurological problems.

https://nypost.com/2023/07/03/mysterious-brain-disorder-strikes-hundreds-cases-keep-growing/

[alert]

Glyphosate is used worldwide without producing this particular syndrome, so is unlikely to be the cause.

There's a lot more about Ms. Cormier in that article, including a current picture of her sitting in a wheelchair outdoors without any tubes or machines visible, so she's at least no worse than we last left her. The story about her and the ice skating rink is also new information; could she have taken a fall on her head as a skater at some point?

[Pathfinder]

PHAC to deploy to New Brunswick over reports of mystery brain symptoms

Province says 2 federal epidemiologists will help neurologist file required paperwork

Kate McKenna · CBC News · Posted: Aug 10, 2023 3:00 AM CDT | Last Updated: August 10
...
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is deploying two epidemiologists to New Brunswick in September to support the province's public health team, at the request of New Brunswick's public health authority.

The move follows a letter from a high-profile neurologist warning that a growing number of abnormally young patients are facing a rapid onset of neurological symptoms.
...
In a statement, PHAC confirmed its epidemiologists will work under the supervision of New Brunswick public health and conduct a "three-day scoping exercise that will include an on-site review of patient records that have been collected to date."
...
Marrero has become a fierce advocate for patients.

In his January 2023 letter, he wrote to Canada's top public health official and to Russell warning them the number of cases has grown from 48 to more than 147, claiming that some are as young as 17 years old.

He wrote that some patients are experiencing "very advance evidence of neurodegenerative diseases," including dementia, severe pain syndrome, brain and muscle atrophy and more.

"Some of these patients are, unfortunately, in advanced stages of clinical deterioration and near the end of life," he wrote.

He also warned that some patients' blood work showed elevated levels for compounds found in herbicides such as glyphosate, and said more testing should be done to rule out environmental toxins, including the neurotoxin BMAA, which is produced by blue-green algae.
...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/phac-new-brunswick-brain-illness-1.6929060