In the same period last year, the department identified 416 new cases.
The first step in understanding the extent of an epidemic was to be able to identify cases.
The study means going through old mining waste and identifying cases of serious environmental problems.
"At this point in time," he said, "none have clearly identified new cases for independent investigation."
The team tries to identify high-risk cases and get people into treatment quickly.
They identified 365 cases of pancreatic cancer over 16 years.
He has also identified several cases of horizontal gene transfer.
Two principal authors of the $400,000 study declined to identify specific cases.
It aims to identify cases early and ensure prompt treatment.
By studying old blood samples, scientists identified cases in the region dating from 1959.