Latest update: 20/09/2011

- cholera - France - Haiti - health

Old diseases making a comeback

This week we take a look at re-emerging diseases: illnesses that everyone thought had been practically wiped out, yet are now rearing their heads once again.

HEALTH

By Kate WILLIAMS / Mairead DUNDAS / Marina BERTSCH

Illnesses such as measles and tuberculosis had been thought to be on the wane. But doctors say these illnesses are coming back with a vengeance, largely because they're becoming drug-resistant. But increased infection rates are also because some parents are afraid to vaccinate their children. We meet one mother whose daughter hasn't had any of the usual jabs.

This week we're also in Haiti, where poor sanitary conditions after the 2010 earthquake have led to a cholera epidemic. Yet cholera hasn't been seen in Haiti for 100 years - scientists suspect the bug was brought in to the country by foreign aid workers.

Finally it's to France where the old 'ailment of kings' is back. Gout is often associated with over-indulgence in centuries gone by. While in the past it was a sign of good living, it's now a source of shame, affecting primarily people with poor diets.

Mairead Dundas

Presenter

13/05/2012 - HEALTH

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01/04/2012 - HEALTH

Allergy Alert

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In Deep Water

This week we're at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille to find out how leaders, decision-makers and volunteers are searching for solutions to ensure safe drinking water for everyone, the world over.

(1) comment

Comments (1)

uric acid and purine?

by Anonyme - 28/09/2011 - 19:45

I am suprised that, in the segment on gout, you made no mention of uric acid and purine. High uric acid levels in the blood stream cause gout in some people, men mostly, and eating food with high levels of purine cause a rise in uric acid levels in the body. You made no connection between the diets of kings and lower income people today. Your information is not very useful.

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