N.B. neurologist, researcher have differing views on whether independent investigation into atypical neurological symptoms is needed<\/p>\n
Published Mar 15, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 18\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 7 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The neurologist at the centre of the so-called \u201cmystery disease\u201d is disputing a recent provincial report into his cluster of patients. But another researcher, who authored a peer-reviewed study on the alleged illness last year, says any further investigation would be a waste of time and an \u201cunnecessary cost.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n New Brunswick\u2019s most recent investigation had been prompted by Dr. Alier Marrero, the specialist behind the theory of a novel illness affecting patients with unexplained symptoms. Marrero had raised concerns about elevated levels of heavy metals and pesticides, such as glyphosate, metabolites and glufosinate in those patients.<\/p>\n Chief medical officer Dr. Yves L\u00e9ger\u2019s office produced a report released in January with findings that determined neither herbicides nor heavy metals have contributed to the symptoms of more than 200 patients in New Brunswick. It also found no evidence of unknown or new brain diseases.<\/p>\n Now, Marrero is asking for an \u201cindependent, multidisciplinary, scientific investigation\u201d under the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Health Research.<\/p>\n He wrote a letter dated Feb. 17 obtained by Brunswick News addressed to the provincial and federal chief medical officers, health ministers for both levels of government and Premier Susan Holt. In the letter he shared his frustrations with the province\u2019s investigation and those of his patients and their advocates that no patients were met or tests conducted during the investigation process.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cNot only did Public Health New Brunswick not provide answers but also chose to ignore most of the facts and extensive clinical data, extraordinarily requested and painfully provided to you,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n A scientific paper from last year, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, had reached the same conclusion as the province based on a review of 25 cases.<\/p>\n The JAMA study concluded all of the patients had well-known conditions, such as Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s, functional neurological disorder, traumatic brain injury, or metastatic cancer.<\/p>\n Dr. Anthony Lang, one of the study\u2019s primary authors, said in an interview New Brunswick residents should accept the findings and recommendations of Leger\u2019s investigation and that the patients should have a second clinical assessment in order to work towards getting a proper diagnosis for their symptoms.<\/p>\n Morning Email Telegraph-Journal<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The province\u2019s report had three recommendations, including follow-up care for patients, having a process in place to support patients in receiving a diagnosis for their illness, and ensuring that a formal process is in place to have two specialists review and agree on any report of undiagnosed neurological illness in a patient.<\/p>\n Lang disagrees with Marrero and does not believe an independent investigation or a PHAC review is warranted.<\/p>\n \u201cI really believe this is unnecessary and is also going to be a source of unnecessary cost to the government and the health care system and to us as taxpayers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He also criticized Holt\u2019s decision to have PHAC review patient data. In August the federal agency agreed\u00a0at the request of the province to undertake an independent review of the available data, including the data L\u00e9ger\u2019s office analyzed and other data collected in the course of New Brunswick\u2019s\u00a0investigation.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s passing the buck and in the process, this is going to cost a lot more bucks to everybody involved,\u201d said Lang.<\/p>\n The premier\u2019s office deferred questions to the Department of Health.<\/p>\n Health Department spokesperson Tara Chislett said in an email that as part of the province\u2019s study, costs for the environmental review were limited to a consultant engaged early in the process and \u201cminor administrative expenses,\u201d but did not confirm an amount. Questions about the cost of clinical testing requested by Marrero were deferred to the health authorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nicholas Janveau, a spokesperson for PHAC, confirmed the department had received Marrero\u2019s letter and remains \u201cactively engaged\u201d with L\u00e9ger\u2019s office.<\/p>\n He added PHAC is undertaking an independent epidemiological review and analysis of available data at a group\/population level, not individual patient-level analysis.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThe review has begun with the first set of data received, and further data is expected from the province,\u201d Janveau said. \u201cThe estimated duration of the review and analysis itself is several months, after all the data has been received.\u201d<\/p>\n Lang noted the hours of work L\u00e9ger\u2019s and provincial and federal health staff put into the investigation and the additional diagnostic scans and testing for heavy metals and pesticides that Marrero ordered for his patients likely came with a steep price tag.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to do these tests you\u2019ve got to have a good reason for doing it. You don\u2019t go on a broad fishing expedition with the belief you\u2019re going to find an underlying environmental cause,\u201d Lang said.<\/p>\n Marrero said in his letter he was \u201cappalled\u201d by the province\u2019s report\u2019s messaging and alleged the blame was shifted on him and the patients, which he called \u201cincomprehensible.\u201d He added placing blame on a reporting physician makes it difficult for other physicians to report cases.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The neurologist said he had reported 408 cases to L\u00e9ger\u2019s office with another 166 under investigation for a total of 574 patients. Marrero noted 138 of them were under 45 years old and emphasized 80 households had more than one case, which includes non-blood relatives like spouses and in-laws.<\/p>\n A total of 309 patients showed \u201cabnormal autoimmune antibodies panels\u201d including several rare antibodies related to autoimmune encephalitis, autoimmune neuropathies and myopathies.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is crucial as these conditions are treatable, but some are potentially deadly if left undiagnosed,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever is causing this phenomenon should be understood in a scientific manner, particularly in potential environmental exposures or if triggers could\u00a0be identified.\u201d<\/p>\n Marrero pointed out there were geographical clusters, such the same town or rural area, same water source or part of the city.<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cThese communities expect you to analyze these facts and investigate accordingly,\u201d he said noting no environmental testing has been done of the water, soil or air.<\/p>\n Neurologist describes \u2018openly hostile environment\u2019 for meeting with medical officer\u00a0<\/p>\n Marrero said in the letter he had been invited to take part in a meeting with Leger to talk about the report and its recommendations but called it an \u201copenly hostile environment\u201d where he did not feel safe.<\/p>\n \u201cFor unexplained reasons, the meeting has been scheduled to be in a law firm office, in the presence of my employer, as well as lawyers,\u201d he said. \u201cIs this a respectful way to meet with a reporting physician or to analyze any Public Health report? Is this a way to provide answers to patients and families?\u201d<\/p>\n Vitalit\u00e9 Health Network confirmed in a statement the meeting had taken place but did not address the newspaper\u2019s question about if or why lawyers were involved.<\/p>\n Advertisement 9<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The health authority said it accepted the recommendations in the province\u2019s report and is committed to implementing them.<\/p>\n \u201cMeetings were held with our specialist physicians and representatives from Public Health to develop an action plan,\u201d said Vitalit\u00e9. \u201cEach affected patient will be contacted and, with their consent, will be offered support and an appropriate clinical reassessment.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional information will be sent directly to patients as soon as the details of the process are finalized, said Vitalit\u00e9.<\/p>\n Chislett said the meeting was organized by Vitalit\u00e9 as an \u201cemployer\u2013employee discussion.\u201d It was held Feb. 18 at the Dr. Georges\u2011L.\u2011Dumont Hospital. <\/p>\n \u201cThe Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health did not set the meeting, select the location, or determine attendees,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Chief Medical Officer of Health attended briefly only to answer potential questions about the report.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Advertisement 10<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u2018Patients are dying and getting lost in all of this:\u2019 advocate<\/p>\n Sarah Nesbitt, a patient liaison and one of Marrero\u2019s patients, said the back and forth \u201cbickering\u201d between the neurologist and the province is distracting from patient care and wasting time that could be spent on getting treatment, therapies, and support.<\/p>\n \u201cThe attention should be on getting help for the patients,\u201d she said. \u201cPatients are dying and getting lost in all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n Nesbitt said she hasn\u2019t heard from patients who have been contacted by L\u00e9ger\u2019s office or Vitalit\u00e9 to discuss the next steps in their care, or a second clinical diagnosis.<\/p>\n Brit Mockler, a senior advisor in Holt\u2019s office, told Nesbitt in an email dated Feb. 26, obtained by the Brunswick News, that the patient care, specialty physician signoff recommendations are \u201caiming to be ready\u201d in mid to late March, though it did not give a deadline for the second clinical assessments because it required further discussion with the health authorities.<\/p>\n Advertisement 11<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Chislett said \u201cwork on the patient\u2011care and specialty physician signoff recommendations remain on track, with actions expected to begin by the end of March or early April.\u201d<\/p>\n Nesbitt noted in her own situation she has had a \u201crough winter\u201d and has regressed with her symptoms, sometimes not being able to leave her bed.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you say we have alternative diagnoses, then why haven\u2019t you given them to us yet?\u201d she said. \u201cThe longer this drags out the more suffering that\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Lang told Brunswick News neurological diseases can be difficult to diagnose, and he pointed to a shortage of neurologists in a province like New Brunswick.<\/p>\n Diagnosable biomarkers are available for some illnesses, but others still require further research, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are reaching a point in the foreseeable future that we\u2019re going to be better at making these diagnoses or at least more reliable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Marrero declined a request for interview.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links Moncton to MiramichiNew BrunswickThe IssuesHealth care N.B. neurologist, researcher have differing views on whether 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Dr. Alier Marrero, a Moncton neurologist seeing patients with atypical neurological symptoms, says an independent investigation is needed into environmental concerns after sharing his frustration with the province’s own investigation into the matter. Photo by Sarah Seeley\/Brunswick NewsArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Telegraph-Journal\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.7.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tj.svg\"){kind=logo}
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