Banke at high risk of leprosy

KATHMANDU: Eighty-four leprosy cases have been identified in Banke district in a period of one year, indicating the district is at high risk of the disease.

One hundred and forty-six new leprosy cases were identified at INF-run Shining Hospital based at Janaki rural municipality-3 in the district in the last Fiscal Year 2080/81. Of them, 84 are from Banke alone.

Hospital Chief Mangal Bahadur Tharu said that among the new cases, 84 are from Banke, 24 from Bardiya, 21 from India, five from Sudurpaschim, four from Rukum, three from Salyan and one each from Dailekh, Surkhet, Jajarkot, Rolpa and Humla.

Thirty-nine per cent among the identified cases tested positive to Mycobacterium leprae, a type of bacteria that causes leprosy.

Tharu said the leprosy patients have been sent to various health facilities for treatment.

According to Tharu, the Hospital provided OPD services to 17,265 people last fiscal year. The Shining Hospital has expanded its leprosy services and established itself as the leprosy referral centre in the western region