Spike in Scurvy: Saskatchewan Doctors Warn Public as 27 Cases Diagnosed

Citrus fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Scurvy is a disease caused by severe deficiency of vitamin C. The Canadian Press/Kelly Clark

Doctors in northern Saskatchewan are seeing an uptick in scurvy cases, sparking warnings on the resurgence of a once-rare disease linked to poor nutrition and known for symptoms like bruising, bleeding gums, and tooth loss.

Since last year, doctors in the northern town of La Ronge, Sask., have identified at least 27 cases of scurvy, local physician Dr. Jeff Irvine, who examined the cases, told The Epoch Times. The reports stem from a study Irvine led between the summer of 2023 and the spring of 2024, and he says more cases have continued to emerge.

“The physician started to get some red flags from his other patients and started noticing that there’s even more signs and symptoms of scurvy in these other patients,” Irvine said in an interview with larongeNow, a local news site. “So they started testing more and more and we’re finding more and more scurvy cases because of that now.”

The discovery follows a report this fall of a 65-year-old Toronto woman who got the disease while living on canned and processed foods. She had limited access to fresh produce because she lacked social and family support.

Scurvy is a disease caused by severe deficiency of vitamin C, which helps the body heal wounds, promotes iron absorption, and acts as an antioxidant. Symptoms of scurvy include bruising, fatigue, tooth loss, and bleeding into the skin.

The disease was common among sailors centuries ago who had limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables while at sea. Although scurvy has been rare in modern times due to increased access to food, new cases have appeared, with doctors and officials pointing to rising food insecurity as one of the main causes.

In the United States, scurvy cases have more than tripled in five years, primarily affecting children, according to a recent report.

Food Insecurity

The Toronto woman’s recent scurvy diagnosis led to calls for doctors to consider socioeconomic factors when assessing patients. The woman arrived at the hospital with swollen gums, skin discolouration on both thighs, weakened legs, and reduced mobility. Her condition was only diagnosed after doctors reviewed her social circumstances and dietary history, according to the Oct. 7 report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The patient lived in social isolation and had a history of high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (unbalanced lipid levels), hypothyroidism, anxiety, and depression. Her poor mobility made it difficult for her to shop and cook, so she relied on nonperishable foods such as canned soup, tuna, white bread, and processed cheese.

Once doctors gave her vitamin C, she began to recover.

“There are numerous risk factors for [scurvy], but clinicians should have a higher index of suspicion in patient[s] with low socioeconomic status or who are experiencing food insecurity,” doctors said in the report.

Saskatchewan’s opposition NDP said the provincial surge in scurvy cases is caused by “skyrocketing food prices.”

“We shouldn’t have to be talking about scurvy in 2024, in Saskatchewan of all places,” said Jordan McPhail, the NDP’s northern affairs shadow minister, in a Nov. 20 press release.

The governing Saskatchewan Party said in a Nov. 19 media statement that food prices are primarily under the purview of the federal government.

“[We] will continue to advocate for our residents to push for necessary changes, including at the federal/provincial/territorial level to ensure affordable access to essential food items,” said the statement.

The Epoch Times contacted the Saskatchewan government and the province’s health authority for comment but did not hear back by publication time.

Vitamin C is usually found in vegetables such as peppers, broccoli, and leafy greens, and in fruits like oranges, strawberries, and kiwi. Due to the broad functions the vitamin plays in the body, initial deficiency symptoms are often non-specific and include fatigue, weakness, irritability, and low mood.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.