Manipur: 26 new leprosy cases detected

Imphal: A total of 26 new cases of leprosy prevalence have been detected in eight districts across the state though there were reports of achieving leprosy elimination in March 2021 in Manipur.

Officials said that the new cases were detected in eight districts — Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Bishnupur, Tamenglong and Senapati. These people including one child and four females are undergoing treatment for leprosy currently, the officials stated.

Manipur has a population of 29,13,900 in 16 districts.

The reported leprosy prevalence as of March 31, 2015, was 0.05/10,000, the state with the least prevalence as per National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) data from 2010-15 (NLEP annual report 2014- 2015).

The union government is targeting to eliminate leprosy and achieve Leprosy Mukt Bharat by 2027 with the launching of the ‘Sprash Leprosy Awareness Campaign 2024’.

Leprosy is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth.

Close contact with someone who has untreated leprosy over months is needed to catch the disease. The leprosy is 100 per cent curable, officials added.