This comes after the report of a citizen who reported several cases coming from the “same community”. This is Julie Dubois, a woman who lost her partner to this disease, according to La Tribune.
The Integrated University Health and Social Services Center of Estrie – Sherbrooke University Hospital Center (CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS) told Noovo Info that checks will be carried out on a number of people affected by the disease.
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“This preliminary stage will take place over several weeks,” Noovo Info was warned by email.
Subsequently, the Public Health department in Estrie will decide whether it is necessary to carry out a more in-depth study in order to know the “potential environmental causes that we should control”. This study will require the use of numerous specialized experts, including those with medical expertise regarding the disease, expertise in toxicology, expertise in epidemiology and statistics, expertise in geography and in geomatics.
“This type of study comes in several stages and can take up to several years,” added the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS by email.
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It is also argued that it is still “too early” to advance certain hypotheses. “We want to keep a broad vision in order to evaluate the different possible sources,” we concluded at Noovo Info.
According to estimates, nearly 4,000 people were living with ALS in Canada in 2023. Each year, 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed with this disease and as many deaths occur.
There is no cure, but treatments can extend life expectancy by a few months.
With information from The Canadian Press
Health
Canada
