Environment Not a Factor in New Brunswick's Mysterious Neurological Syndrome Cluster

At a press conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced that the province is releasing a report on Public Health’s investigation into the cluster of patients in Eastern New Brunswick who have a potential neurological syndrome of unknown cause. The purpose of the report and investigation was to determine whether the condition is an illness of unknown cause and if there are any environmental or lifestyle factors that could have contributed to it. The potential neurological syndrome appears to be limited to New Brunswick, with no similar cases being referred from other provinces or territories.

Shephard said that an epidemiological report has found that there is no known exposure in the province that could have triggered the symptoms of a potential neurological syndrome of unknown cause.

“Based on the findings of the report, we have learned that New Brunswickers are not at risk from any behaviours, foods or environmental exposures within the province,” said Shephard.

A total of 48 patients were identified to have some clinical signs and symptoms that were similar to those associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease yet presented atypical characteristics. These patients have notably all tested negative for known forms of human prion diseases. 34 of the 48 patients in the cluster, or their family members (proxies), participated in the study (ine patients declined to participate, and five could not be contacted)

Clinical and diagnostic information is currently being reviewed by an oversight committee composed of six neurologists, and their clinical review is expected to be finished sometime in early 2022.

“While we have ruled out food and other common exposures, we are still working to determine what took place,” said Shephard. “The role of the oversight committee is to provide a professional second opinion to ensure due diligence and rule out other plausible diagnoses, and they will continue to review all case files, medical charts and records and will re-interview and re-evaluate patients if needed.”