Additional federal support sought for neurological illness investigation

Release

Department of Health

September 05, 2025

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government has asked the Public Health Agency of Canada for additional support in the investigation of cases of undiagnosed neurological illness.

As New Brunswick’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health finalizes its environmental analysis report, the federal agency has been asked to conduct a review of all the data collected as part of this investigation in accordance with a request from patient representatives. In the interests of protecting patient privacy, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will ensure a formal data-sharing agreement – including individual patient consents – is in place before data is shared with the agency. This work is now underway.

“The chief medical officer of health and his staff have done significant and important work to date on the analysis and incorporation of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s feedback, and we look forward to having that information shared with the public,” said Health Minister John Dornan. “At the same time, we have asked the Public Health Agency of Canada to review all the data so we can draw on every available expertise to better understand these complex cases.”

The provincial government has been investigating cases of undiagnosed neurological illness since 2021, when the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health studied a group of 48 patients with a range of symptoms. The initial investigation found no evidence of a common illness, and a report was issued on Feb. 24, 2022.

In early 2023, new concerns – including more patients reporting unusual symptoms – were reported to Public Health. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Vitalité Health Network have since been working together, with support from the Public Health Agency of Canada, to collect and verify patient information to allow for further investigation.

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health began its analysis of patient data in March 2025.

Status of investigation report

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health has also adjusted the timeline for the release of its report on the investigation. It has been pushed from the end of summer to the end of December.

“From the start of our investigation, we have been clear about our objective to develop a robust understanding of what the data is telling us, which will help us determine what next steps are needed to support affected patients and their families,” said Dr. Yves Léger, the chief medical officer of health. “The work has been underway for several months, and we’ve received valuable feedback from our partners throughout the process. Taking the time to reflect that input in the final report is essential to ensuring the findings are as thorough as possible.”

More information about the investigation, including timelines for the work, is available online.

Timelines for the federal agency’s review will depend on getting the consent of patients to allow the sharing of data.