FREDERICTON – A Liberal member of Parliament is calling for a federal investigation into a cluster of neurological illnesses in New Brunswick.
Jenica Atwin, who represents Fredericton in the House of Commons, wrote to federal Health Minister Mark Holland to request “a full investigation” into the cluster of diseases.
Her letter dated Tuesday says there are now more than 430 cases in the province, including 111 patients younger than 45.
Atwin says the high number of young people afflicted shows an investigation is warranted, and she says federal law obliges the minister to launch research into such a public health “anomaly.”
Susan Holt, leader of the province’s Liberal Opposition, said last week she would immediately launch an investigation into the “mystery illness” if her party wins the October election.
New Brunswick health authorities said in 2022 that a review of 48 cases of patients suffering from a neurological syndrome of unknown cause found that the patients didn’t have symptoms in common or a shared illness.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.
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