Public health investigating ALS cases in Quebec community [Video]

Public health authorities in the Eastern Townships are investigating after multiple ALS cases were reported in the same area.

The Estrie health and social services centre at the Sherbrooke Hospital (CIUSSSE-CHUS) will first need to verify whether there are more people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, that would be expected in the area.

“This preliminary stage will take several weeks,” said the CIUSSSE-CHUS media relations team. “Once the information has been collated and verified, the management of Santé publique en Estrie will have to decide whether a more in-depth study is possible. The aim would then be to explore potential environmental causes that we would need to control.”

Dr. Angela Genge runs the ALS Centre of Excellence and the Montreal Neurological Centre. She said the centre was alerted by the wife of a patient, whose husband had died. The patient said there were a …