Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win said that the number of leprosy new cases has decreased significantly but the transmission of the disease is still ongoing. He made the remark at a review meeting of the Department of Public Health on disease prevention and control held in Nay Pyi Taw on March 18.
As new leprosy cases continue to appear, the risk of leprosy transmission can be reduced by taking a single dose of Rifampicin as a preventive measure. Therefore, a single dose of Rifampicin will be administered to those living in the same household with a leprosy patient and central-level teacher training and regional and state-level multiplied trainings will be conducted, said Union Minister Dr. Thet Khaing Win.
According to the latest statistics from 2023, 1,338 new leprosy cases, 207 new patients with stage 2 organ failure, and 38 new pediatric patients were identified and treated.
