Scurvy resurgence highlights issues of food insecurity in Canada's rural and remote areas

A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada.

A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada.

Earlier this week, doctors identified 27 cases of scurvy caused by prolonged and severe vitamin C deficiency in northern Saskatchewan. Experts say the confirmed diagnoses highlight a broader issue with poverty and food insecurity in rural and remote communities across the country.

“Vitamin C comes from lots of different food sources, but if you don't get those food sources, the body can't do what it needs to do,” said Dr. Jeff Irvine, a physician researcher with Northern Medical Services in La Ronge, Sask.

Irvine was asked to help investigate the prevalence of scurvy in his northern community of La Ronge after his colleague confirmed a single case of the disease.

Irvine looked back at the last 51 vitamin C blood tests performed on patients in La Ronge over the last 14 years. Fifty of the tests took place between mid-2023 and spring 2024, with 27 of those results showing low levels of vitamin C. Those blood results paired with physical exam results indicated the 27 patients were positive for scurvy, Irvine said.

The patients’ ages ranged from 20 to 80 years old. Nearly eight in 10 were Indigenous.

“We have reason to believe that the scope of the problem might be larger than we think at this point,” said Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka, a medical health officer with the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority.