Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Wednesday, October 22.
What comes to mind when you hear the word “scurvy”? Swashbuckling pirates with poor diets sailing the high seas? British sailors who consumed little other than salted meat and rum?
Not someone living in Perth in 2024, right?
Well, a group of West Australian doctors are warning the rare 18th century disease is still around, and its resurgence could be linked to rising cost-of-living pressures.
In a case detailed in the British Medical Journal today, a man in his 50s presented to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital with a rash, anaemia, and blood in his urine.
Doctors fear the cost of living could fuel a resurgence of scurvy after a Perth man was diagnosed.
As a slew of tests failed to come up with any red flags, doctors turned their attention to the man’s diet.
While easily treatable with vitamins and dietary changes, doctors warn scurvy can be fatal and easily misdiagnosed.
Read Jesinta Burton’s story here.
Meanwhile, environment groups are claiming an American oil and gas company with plans to begin fracking operations in the Kimberley is attempting to pull the wool over the federal government’s eyes.
Black Mountain Energy was the first to submit a proposal after a fracking moratorium was lifted in the state’s north in 2018.
The application to the federal government included plans to drill six wells for its Valhalla gas project in the Canning Basin, 123 kilometres from Derby.
But this application was recently withdrawn. While the company stated it had elected to modify its submission, local environmental groups alleged the withdrawal was forced because of a discrepancy, given its state application for the same project planned for up to 20 wells.
Read Holly Thompson’s report here.
Thank you for joining us this morning, stay tuned as we bring you all the news you need to know today.
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