Canada: Mystery Illness In Young Adults Grows; Rapid Weight Loss, Insomnia, Hallucinations, Mobility
-'Whistleblower warns baffling illness affects growing number of young adults in Canadian province.' The Guardian, Jan. 2, 2022. -Ed. - Several new cases in New Brunswick involve caretakers of those afflicted, suggesting a possible environmental trigger. -
A whistleblower in the Canadian province of New Brunswick has warned that a progressive neurological illness that has baffled experts for more than 2 years appears to be affecting a growing number of young people and causing swift cognitive decline among some of the afflicted. An employee with Vitalité Health Network, one of the province’s 2 health authorities, said that suspected cases are growing in number and that young adults with no prior health triggers are developing a list of troubling symptoms, including rapid weight loss, insomnia, hallucinations, difficulty thinking and limited mobility.
The official number of cases under investigation, 48, remains unchanged since it was first announced in early spring 2021. But multiple sources say the cluster could now be as many as 150 people, with a backlog of cases involving young people still requiring further assessment. “I’m truly concerned about these cases because they seem to evolve so fast,” said the source. “I’m worried for them and we owe them some kind of explanation.”
At the same time, at least 9 cases have been recorded in which 2 people in close contact – but without genetic links – have developed symptoms, suggesting that environmental factors may be involved. One suspected case involved a man who was developing symptoms of dementia and ataxia. His wife, who was his caregiver, suddenly began losing sleep and experiencing muscle wasting, dementia and hallucinations. Now her condition is worse than his.
A woman in her 30s was described as non-verbal, is feeding with a tube and drools excessively. Her caregiver, a nursing student in her 20s, also recently started showing symptoms of neurological decline. In another case, a young mother quickly lost nearly 60 pounds, developed insomnia and began hallucinating. Brain imaging showed advanced signs of atrophy. The Vitalité employee, who asked not to be named because they were unauthorized to speak publicly & feared repercussions for speaking out, said they decided to come forward because of growing concerns over the speed with which young people have deteriorated...
More, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/02/neurological-illness-affecting-young-adults-canada
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