A mysterious neurological disease that has afflicted people of a small province has mystified Canadian experts. One neurologist described the condition as a medical "whodunit" that occurs once or twice a century.
The first case of the sickness was discovered in 2015. Still, it was only recently made public when a memo written by New Brunswick's senior medical doctor was leaked to the press in March.
Insomnia, poor motor function, visual problems, and hallucinations, including images of the dead, are among the symptoms of this mystery illness. WGME said the condition is known to have affected at least 48 persons in New Brunswick. Its working name is Neurological Syndrome of Unknown Etiology (NSUE). Six people have died as a result of it.
The patients range in age from 18 to 84. Gabrielle Cormier, 20, used to compete in figure skating and dreamed of becoming a pathologist. Instead, she started feeling tired, seeing sights that looked like static from television and bumping into things two years ago. Gabrielle now uses a cane to go about and has hallucinations, memory lapses, and involuntary jerking motions.
"I was just starting what is supposed to be the best chapter of your life, and then it disappeared. I don't know if I will die or live out the rest of my life with these symptoms", she told The New York Times.
Conspiracy Theories and Potential Clues
The discovery has sparked anxiety among Canadians and created a slew of conspiracy theories. Many blame everything from cell phone towers to coronavirus immunizations to fracking.
"People are alarmed. They are asking, 'Is it environmental? Is it genetic? Is it fish or deer meat? Is it something else?' Everyone wants answers", Bertrand mayor Yvon Godin said in The New York Times report.
Doctors examining the sickness disagree over whether it is a new disease or an old one that hasn't been identified. Dr. Alier Marrero, who saw the first known case of NSUE, said per Sputnik News that tests revealed brain atrophy and neurological dysfunction. But no conclusive diagnosis was made.
Doctors first assumed that the strange illness was a sort of prion disease, but autopsies eventually contradicted this theory.
Another idea claims that BMAA, a toxin, is to blame for the sickness. Sputnik News said blue-green algae create it, and it's been linked to brain illnesses, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Exposure to germs, fungi, and domoic acid, a neurotoxin found in shellfish, are among the other explanations.
Dr. Marrero stated that he had conferred with top scientists worldwide who are also trying to figure out what causes the condition. "It was not something we have seen before," he told The New York Times.
Doctors looking into the unusual ailment also point out that the mystery surrounding it demonstrates how some brain illnesses can perplex even eminent researchers. Researchers also point out that the tardy response to the mystery illness proves how challenging it has been to cope with other medical issues while all healthcare resources have been focused on the coronavirus pandemic.
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