NSW records 40 motor neurone disease notifications

New South Wales has recorded its first 40 notifications of motor neurone disease (MND) since the condition became a legally reportable disease on 1 September 2026. The figures, reported as of 27 October, include four historical cases submitted retrospectively.

The new reporting requirement, established under the Public Health Amendment (Motor Neurone Disease) Order 2026, mandates that medical practitioners notify NSW Health of MND diagnoses. This system aims to provide researchers and health authorities with a clearer understanding of disease distribution, demographics, and potential causes to better guide healthcare planning and research funding.

While the state-wide data is being compiled, NSW Health has declined requests for a regional breakdown of cases in the Riverina. This region has been a focal point of concern due to a 2015 study suggesting MND rates in areas such as Wagga Wagga, Griffith, and Leeton were approximately seven times the national average. Researchers are investigating various factors for these elevated rates, including potential exposure to blue-green algae toxins in local waterways.