OREANDA-NEWS. In the Canadian province of New Brunswick, cases of an unknown neurological disease that affects young people have been reported for about two years. The Guardian newspaper reports about it.

Over time, the mysterious disease has begun to appear predominantly in young people, experts say.

"I am really concerned about these cases because they seem to be developing very quickly," stressed a knowledgeable source of the publication.

The disease manifests itself as a rapid decline in cognitive functions, such as memory impairment. Muscle spasms, weight loss, vestibular dysfunction and pain in the extremities also characterise the condition. In addition, sufferers may experience occasional hallucinations.

Doctors say, the disease resembles a dangerous illness with 100% mortality, called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or mad cow disease.

So far, 48 cases have been reported in Canada. However, scientists believe the actual numbers could be higher. At the same time, doctors have identified eight deaths among patients suspected of having the disease.

On 14 December, BBC journalists reported that at least 89 people in South Sudan had died of an unknown disease in the past few weeks. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sent an emergency research team to Jonglei province, the epicentre of the disease.

The majority of those sickened live in the region where the major flooding occurred. The initial suspicion of cholera has not been confirmed in the checks.

Rospotrebnadzor said it is monitoring the situation with the unknown disease in South Sudan. There is practically no risk of its spread in Russia, it said.