N.B. completes data analysis phase of mystery brain illness investigation
CBC
New Brunswick has completed the data analysis phase of its investigation into an undiagnosed neurological illness affecting hundreds of people and has submitted its results to the Public Health Agency of Canada for scientific review.
No information about New Brunswick's findings into the mystery brain illness, first flagged by Moncton neurologist Dr. Alier Marrero several years ago, have been released.
But the main purpose of this latest investigation announced in March is to "further understand concerns" Marrero raised regarding elevated levels of certain environmental substances, such as heavy metals and the herbicide glyphosate, in some patients.
"While we know New Brunswickers are eager [to] see the results of the analysis, we will wait until the scientific review is completed before sharing findings as part of the final report," expected this summer, along with recommendations, Dr. Yves Léger, the chief medical officer of health, said in a statement Tuesday.
"Having the findings reviewed, both internally and by the Public Health Agency of Canada, will ensure we come out of this process with a robust understanding of what the data is telling us," Léger said.
"This will help us determine what needs to happen next to support affected patients and their families."
The data analysis included 222 patients for whom Marrero had completed the enhanced surveillance forms Public Health created to report the mysterious brain cases, with symptoms ranging from painful muscle spasms and hallucinations to memory loss and behavioural changes.
According to a letter Marrero wrote to federal and provincial officials in February, the number of people suffering from unexplained neurological symptoms has jumped to more than 500 across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.
Fifty people have died.
Patient advocate Stacie Quigley Cormier, whose stepdaughter Gabrielle is one of Marrero's patients, said they're happy to see the New Brunswick investigation moving forward.
But patients still feel in the dark about the process, she said. So she has requested clarification about what exactly the federal agency's role entails.
"We know that Public Health Agency of Canada is … reviewing files, but we don't know what exactly that looks like. So that's where we stand right now. We're looking for some more transparency," said Quigley Cormier.
"When patient data is getting reviewed, who is reviewing it, what's the mandate during the review — that kind of thing."
Patients are also disappointed New Brunswick's preliminary findings have not been released, Quigley Cormier said. They had hoped to see an interim report.
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