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Neurological Syndrome Of Unknown Cause Being Investigated In New
Brunswick
A
cluster of 48 cases as of early June of neurological illness of
unknown cause (NSUC) has been reported and is under investigation by
Public Health New Brunswick.
Common Symptoms
The
cluster became apparent as a result of a series of case referrals from
New Brunswick to the Canadian national Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Surveillance System. These cases proved negative for Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease but proved to be a source of concern nevertheless because the
cases had common symptoms. Some of these symptoms include memory
problems, muscle spasms, balance issues, blurred vision or visual
hallucinations, unexplained and significant weight loss, behavior
changes, and pain in the upper or lower limbs.
The
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance group contacted Public Health
New Brunswick in December 2020 to launch a joint investigation. A case
definition was developed in January and physicians in New Brunswick
were asked to report any suspect cases beginning in March 2021.
Acadian Risk?
Interestingly, at the time of referral to the Surveillance System,
most of the individuals were living in northeastern New Brunswick on
the Acadian peninsula and near the city of Moncton. There has been no
new evidence collected to suggest that residents of these areas are at
increased risk relative to New Brunswick residents in other areas of
the province.
So far,
6 deaths have been associated with this cluster with onset dates
between 2013 and 2020. Exactly half of the cases are male and half
female ranging in age from 18-85 years old. No clusters have been
identified outside of New Brunswick.
Hunt
For Risk Factors
Public
Health New Brunswick has developed a questionnaire to gather exposure
information from the cases and look for common exposures related to
food, the environment, or animals.
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