8 February 2021 12:00 am
By Chaturanga Samarawickrama
There is an increase in reporting leprosy patients in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts, Health Capsule Consultant and Community Physician of the Health Ministry’s Anti-Leprosy Campaign Dr Kapila Piyasena said.
He told the Daily Mirror that the leprosy patients are increasing due to the lack of concern on the decease, as it claimed to have been eliminated from the country.
However, leprosy is not eradicated from the country, and it is completely a myth, he said.
Spreading of the disease among people is on the rise now, Dr Piyasena said. “Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. It can affect the skin and nerves mainly, and in rare instances, the internal organs too,” he said. As per the records, Dr Piyasena said the number of cases received by the Gampaha clinic had reached twice in January when compared to the previous months.