Jan. 9, 2009
Another suspected arsenic poisoning case may have occurred in Blackville as residents continue to wait for answers.
Department of Health spokesperson Meghan Cumby said health officials did receive a report of a possible fifth case and continue to discuss it with the treating physicians.
"We are aware of the possible fifth case, but before we are able to confirm it we have to collect more data."
Since May, four cases of arsenic poisoning have been confirmed in the Digby Street/Shaeffer Lane area of Blackville and no cause has been identified.
Cumby said the field epidemiologist will give a preliminary analysis of the case once he analyzes all the data.
"We're not able to confirm it at this point."
Cumby didn't know when the department heard about the possible fifth case.
Village Coun. Jake Stewart found out about it Tuesday afternoon and said he was surprised to see a story in Wednesday's Miramichi Leader that said officials had no other cases to report.
People need to know if there is arsenic in their blood because they need treatment if it is, he said.
"We just need answers."
Stewart said there are a lot of people who have children in the area where the previous cases have occurred and it's sad they haven't received any answers yet.
"People are scared."
There are people who sent their tests away in November and still haven't received results, he said and added there is still no known source of the arsenic yet.
"That's the most important thing."
As of yesterday Southwest Miramichi MLA Rick Brewer said he hadn't heard anything directly from anyone affected by the latest possible case.
"I hear a rumour."
Brewer said he would like to see the results of all the testing immediately, but the lab is in Ontario and out of his jurisdiction.
"When it's in another jurisdiction it's kind of hard to control the process."
The government has little control over what a lab does in Ontario Brewer said, and added the lab does work for several jurisdictions.
"This is a unique situation."
Brewer said it's a tough situation for people because they don't know what is happening and he understands the issue of not knowing.
"It's tough for the people affected."
He met with Health Minister Michael Murphy Wednesday, but the issue is they are relying on Health Canada for answers, he said.
"Until we have a source it's hard to eradicate the issue."
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