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Numerous cases of ALS in Estrie: Public Health opens an investigation
Jasmine Dumas
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 06:00
The Estrie Public Health Department is opening an investigation to shed light on what appears to be an abnormally high number of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the region, particularly in the Windsor sector.
"The aim of the investigation is to assess whether there could be an environmental cause behind the cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis," explains Dr Guillaume Vandal, a public health specialist.
The investigation, which is only just beginning, was opened following a report from the widow of an ALS victim.
"The questions started when we went to visit the neurology clinic in Montreal. The first question they asked Marco was if he lived in the Eastern Townships," says Julie Dubois.
Her husband, Marco Brindle, was diagnosed with ALS during the pandemic and died of the disease in January. The father of four and grandfather of two was just 61.
"We realized that there were a lot of people in our small area who had or had the disease. I did some research and found 18 people who had been diagnosed with ALS in the Windsor area," says Dubois.
A few months after her husband's death, she submitted her file to Public Health.
"Based on the information we have, we have retained the report and yes, we are moving forward with the investigation," confirms Dr. Guillaume Vandal, a specialist in public health and preventive medicine at the Estrie Public Health Department.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that causes muscles to weaken. The average life expectancy for those affected is two to four years.
A long-term job
The work of Public Health could last for years. The first step is to first validate the information provided by the citizen, locate the reported cases and try to make links.
"Are there common characteristics between these people that would lead us to possible causes? For the moment we don't know if we will focus our research on Windsor, Val-Saint-François or the entire Eastern Townships, all scenarios are plausible," says the doctor in charge of the investigation.
"It's a very complex process that will require medical, geographic, toxicological and epidemiological expertise," he continues. "We have a good part of this expertise within the Public Health department, but for certain elements we will have to call on external expertise. We have already started contacting neurologists to help us with the file for the medical expertise concerning ALS."
Dr. Angela Genge, director of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, will act as an advisor in the investigation led by Public Health.
"Ms. Dubois raises an important question," says the doctor, who is also the director of the Global Centre of Excellence in ALS Patient Care. "It is absolutely necessary to conduct this investigation based on what she discovered because the cases are abnormally close to each other. The results of this research could give us answers that could be used much more widely than just in Estrie."
For her part, Julie Dubois is satisfied with the response from Public Health.
"I'm happy because finally we might know what's happening in our area and that might also help advance research," she rejoices.
Another person applauding the move is Serge Lebrun, a former colleague of Marco Brindle. He was also diagnosed with ALS four years ago.
"It's a blow to the forehead when you're told that you have this and that there are no medications to cure it. When Julie showed me the data she collected, I was surprised, I never thought there was so much. When you realize that there are so many people who are affected, I think it's a good thing to push it further, to try to understand and know what can cause it," confided Mr. Lebrun.
Dr. Guillaume Vandal advises the population that there is no need to notify Public Health to report people who are infected: "People do not need to call us. We will start, as I said, with the cases that have been submitted to us. Later, we will try to find other cases and for that, we are already looking at different databases that exist, such as those of hospitals, outpatient clinics or even the death registry."
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2024/12...n-estrie-la-sante-publique-ouvre-une-enquete
Numerous cases of ALS in Estrie: Public Health opens an investigation
Jasmine Dumas
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 06:00
The Estrie Public Health Department is opening an investigation to shed light on what appears to be an abnormally high number of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the region, particularly in the Windsor sector.
"The aim of the investigation is to assess whether there could be an environmental cause behind the cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis," explains Dr Guillaume Vandal, a public health specialist.
The investigation, which is only just beginning, was opened following a report from the widow of an ALS victim.
"The questions started when we went to visit the neurology clinic in Montreal. The first question they asked Marco was if he lived in the Eastern Townships," says Julie Dubois.
Her husband, Marco Brindle, was diagnosed with ALS during the pandemic and died of the disease in January. The father of four and grandfather of two was just 61.
"We realized that there were a lot of people in our small area who had or had the disease. I did some research and found 18 people who had been diagnosed with ALS in the Windsor area," says Dubois.
A few months after her husband's death, she submitted her file to Public Health.
"Based on the information we have, we have retained the report and yes, we are moving forward with the investigation," confirms Dr. Guillaume Vandal, a specialist in public health and preventive medicine at the Estrie Public Health Department.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that causes muscles to weaken. The average life expectancy for those affected is two to four years.
A long-term job
The work of Public Health could last for years. The first step is to first validate the information provided by the citizen, locate the reported cases and try to make links.
"Are there common characteristics between these people that would lead us to possible causes? For the moment we don't know if we will focus our research on Windsor, Val-Saint-François or the entire Eastern Townships, all scenarios are plausible," says the doctor in charge of the investigation.
"It's a very complex process that will require medical, geographic, toxicological and epidemiological expertise," he continues. "We have a good part of this expertise within the Public Health department, but for certain elements we will have to call on external expertise. We have already started contacting neurologists to help us with the file for the medical expertise concerning ALS."
Dr. Angela Genge, director of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinic at the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, will act as an advisor in the investigation led by Public Health.
"Ms. Dubois raises an important question," says the doctor, who is also the director of the Global Centre of Excellence in ALS Patient Care. "It is absolutely necessary to conduct this investigation based on what she discovered because the cases are abnormally close to each other. The results of this research could give us answers that could be used much more widely than just in Estrie."
For her part, Julie Dubois is satisfied with the response from Public Health.
"I'm happy because finally we might know what's happening in our area and that might also help advance research," she rejoices.
Another person applauding the move is Serge Lebrun, a former colleague of Marco Brindle. He was also diagnosed with ALS four years ago.
"It's a blow to the forehead when you're told that you have this and that there are no medications to cure it. When Julie showed me the data she collected, I was surprised, I never thought there was so much. When you realize that there are so many people who are affected, I think it's a good thing to push it further, to try to understand and know what can cause it," confided Mr. Lebrun.
Dr. Guillaume Vandal advises the population that there is no need to notify Public Health to report people who are infected: "People do not need to call us. We will start, as I said, with the cases that have been submitted to us. Later, we will try to find other cases and for that, we are already looking at different databases that exist, such as those of hospitals, outpatient clinics or even the death registry."
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2024/12...n-estrie-la-sante-publique-ouvre-une-enquete
