FREDERICTON – In a move that could shake up both the agricultural and forestry sectors, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has stated she would be open to banning the herbicide glyphosate if a new scientific investigation confirms a connection to the mysterious neurological illness affecting hundreds of residents in the province.
The province has initiated a fresh investigation into the illness, which has caused significant public concern due to symptoms that include muscle spasms, brain fog, and mobility issues. The condition has been reported in New Brunswick since 2012, with some cases initially linked to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, though subsequent investigations have cast doubt on this association.
Premier Holt emphasized the need for a “transparent scientific investigation” next year, with assistance from the federal government, following the claims by a Moncton neurologist that the illness might be impacting not just New Brunswickers but also individuals from six other provinces.
The herbicide glyphosate, commonly used for controlling weeds in both farming and forestry, has come under scrutiny. Holt’s statement comes after the neurologist suggested that environmental exposure to glyphosate could be linked to the illness, a hypothesis that has yet to be conclusively proven.
While Holt is cautious about jumping to conclusions without solid scientific backing, she acknowledged the public’s fear regarding glyphosate’s potential health impacts. “New Brunswickers are afraid about what glyphosate might do, and the mysterious neurological illness has given them reason,” Holt noted.
The investigation’s outcome could have significant implications for New Brunswick’s economy, considering the widespread use of glyphosate in the province’s vast forestry operations and agricultural practices. Holt’s health minister, Dr. John Dornan, has refrained from speculating on whether there’s a singular neurological illness at play, highlighting the complexity of the situation.
This new investigation aims to address previous criticisms from scientists and affected families who felt the initial response lacked rigor and transparency. The promise of a thorough investigation, coupled with the potential for regulatory action against glyphosate, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga of this mysterious illness.
Source Citation: CBC
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/14/magazine/canada-brain-disease-dementia.html
It turned out that Laurie Beatty was just one of many local residents who had gone to Marrero’s office exhibiting similar, inexplicable symptoms of neurological decline — more than 20 in the previous four years. The first signs were often behavioral. One patient fell asleep for nearly 20 hours straight before a friend took her to the hospital; another found himself afraid to disturb the stranger who had sat down in his living room, only to realize hours later that the stranger was his wife.
But these anxieties and sleep problems quickly gave way to more acute presentations: limb pain and trouble balancing, teeth chattering and shocklike muscle spasms so violent that some patients could no longer sleep in the same bed as their spouses. Many patients developed vision problems; some experienced terrifying hallucinations. (“Like daydreaming,” Marrero says, “but a nightmare.”) As the sickness continued to manifest, muscles wasted away and cognitive decline set in. Some patients died; others plateaued in various states of distress.
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In ALL of the cases the decline was extremely rapid.
But the government says nothing is wrong.
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/health/neuro-cluster.html
A separate in-depth epidemiological investigation last fall concluded the patients didn’t have any common behaviours, foods or environmental exposures.
Following these reports, all the patients were excluded from the cluster and the Minister of Health has accepted the conclusion that no such neurological syndrome of unknown cause exists in New Brunswick.