Wellness Exchange: Health Discussions
Victorian Diseases Resurge: Scabies, Syphilis, Scurvy Return
(upbeat music) - Welcome to "Listen To." This is Ted. The news was published on October 27th Sunday. So we've got a rise in what are being called Victorian diseases like scabies, syphilis, and scurvy in modern Britain. Eric, what details from the article stand out to you? - It's crazy to see scabies making a comeback. It's been linked to lack of public health funding and overcrowding. The spike in cases, particularly in the north of England, seems linked to students returning to university. - Don't forget why. Public health budgets have been slashed by 28% in real terms since 2015. That's had a massive impact. For example, councils can't spend enough on testing or treatment-- - Sure, but Kate says-- - It's also about people not seeking treatment quickly enough and not using treatments effectively. Scabies spreads through skin contact, especially in overcrowded areas. - And why are people not getting treated? Because healthcare access is a nightmare. NHS services are overstretched due to years of-- - Kate, scurvy was also mentioned. What's going on with that? - Scurvy is back because people aren't getting enough fruits and veggies. Delays and diagnosis and poor diets play a big role in all this. - But scurvy doesn't just pop up. It's a result of poor nutrition habits, which comes down to personal response. - Eric, syphilis and other STIs are at their highest levels since the mid 20th century. Your thoughts? - It's not just about STI cases rising. It's that sexual health services are overwhelmed. There were 9,500 syphilis cases in England last year, a 10% increase. - Exactly, Eric, and why is that? Funding cuts, Professor Chris Whitty even said as much. We need more resources to help help health. - The article also points out a failure in vaccinations. Less than 85% of five-year-olds in England are fully protected against measles. - That's partly due to disruption during the pandemic and declining trust in healthcare systems. People are skipping important-- - This rise in diseases feels oddly familiar. Eric, can you think of a comparable historic event? - Absolutely. We can look back to the 18th and 19th centuries when similar diseases were rampant. Poor public sanitation and the lack of vaccines led to widespread health issues. - But there's a big difference now. We're supposed to be advanced. Back then, they didn't understand germs. Today we do, but we're cutting budgets-- - It's not just about the understanding, Kate. It's also about implementation. Back then, they didn't have modern medicine or vaccines. Now we do, but then-- - Eric, about this underutilization. Could it be linked to societal negligence? - It's multifaceted. People today might think they're invincible due to modern medicine. There's less focus on preventive measures like proper nutrition and timely vaccination. - Or maybe they don't have access to preventive measures because of systemic issues. Remember, councils can't provide adequate services-- - Still, let's not ignore individual responsibility. Back then, overcrowding and poor living conditions were the norm. Today, they're often due to lifestyle-- - Blaming individuals is unfair. Many can't control their living conditions, especially students and low-income families. The historical comparison highlights government neglect-- - Let's turn to childhood diseases like measles and whooping cough. What's the link to the past? - Measles reemerging is shocking. We've had effective vaccines for decades. 10 babies died this year from whooping cough, a disease we have vaccines for. - And yet, measles outbreaks were common in the past too, mostly due to low vaccination rates and public misinformation, which is what's happening now as well. - Given the current situation, let's speculate on how this might unfold. Eric, what might the future hold if current trends continue? - Well, if nothing changes, we'll see a continued rise in these preventable diseases overcrowding and poor personal hygiene will exacerbate scabies, for instance. - The long-term impact will be even worse. The erosion of public trust in health institutions will lead to lower vaccination rates and even higher disease rates. - Conversely, Kate, what if we manage to rectify these issues? - If we reinvest in public health, increase accessibility to vaccines and improve nutrition, we could see these diseases decline again. It's about systemic changes. - Sure, but that also requires individuals to take responsibility, education on health and hygiene has to improve, otherwise reinvest in public health. - Systemic issues need systemic solutions, Eric. People can only do so much on their own when living in overcrowded conditions. - Eric, would you say personal responsibility is the key here? - It's a big part of it, Ted, but policies must encourage and facilitate it. If people can access good health care and information, they're more likely to act responsibly. - That's like putting the cart before the horse. Without robust public health infrastructure, personal responsibility is a moot point. Re-instate the cuts, provide access, then talk-- - The future of public health depends on a balanced approach. Investment in systemic infrastructure combined with individual accountability can bring these disease numbers down effectively. - And that investment needs to be significant and immediate, focusing equally on accessible healthcare, public education and nutrition. - Thanks, Eric and Kate, for your insights. We'll leave it there for today.