BANKE, Jan 1: Banke district recorded 84 leprosy cases in a period of one year, indicating high risk of infection in the district.
Shining Hospital in Janaki rural municipality-3 in the district reported a total of 146 leprosy cases, including 84 from Banke, in the fiscal year 2023/24.
Hospital Chief Mangal Bahadur Tharu said that among the new cases, 84 were 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.
Leprosy on rise in Jhapa
Thirty-nine per cent of the samples tested positive for Mycobacterium leprae, a type of bacteria that causes leprosy.
Tharu said that the leprosy patients have been sent to various health facilities for treatment.
According to Tharu, the hospital provided OPD services to 17,265 people in the last fiscal year. Shining Hospital has expanded its leprosy services and established itself as the leprosy referral centre in the western region.
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