An unknown disease has baffled doctors in New Brunswick
Symptoms of the new disease: behavioral changes, sleep disturbances, pain, visual hallucinations.
The Health Department is closely monitoring more than 40 patients at New Brunswick hospitals. They are suffering from an unknown disease whose symptoms resemble Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It's an incurable and deadly brain disease.
In a memo to the New Brunswick medical community, the department noted 42 cases of progressive neurological syndrome of unknown origin.
The first case of the disease was diagnosed in 2015. In 2019, doctors found 11 cases, in 2020 — 24, and in 2021 — 6 more cases. Five patients died.
The disease affects all age groups. Known cases are concentrated in two areas: the Acadian Peninsula in northeastern New Brunswick and the Moncton area in the southeast. The Department of Health notes that all patients were living in the northeast and Moncton at the time the first symptoms appeared. Infection may have occurred in other areas. To date, no cases have been detected in the rest of Canada.
Prion disease or a new disease?
A research team led by neurologist Alier Marrero drew a preliminary conclusion: the disease is not genetic, the contamination occurred through water, food or air.
"We are working with various national groups and experts, but no clear cause has been identified at this time," the note said.
Dr. Alier Marrero believes that there is still not enough information to talk about the spread of prion disease, a rare and incurable disease. The symptoms of all 42 cases are similar to those of prion diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.But test results say otherwise: no known prion disease has been detected in patients. Doctors cannot say with certainty whether they are facing a new variant of prion disease or an entirely new disease.
Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jennifer Russell described symptoms that may indicate an unknown disease.
These include: behavioral changes, sleep disturbances, pain, visual hallucinations, coordination problems, and profound muscle and brain atrophy. The symptoms progress from 18 to 36 months.
