Delhi has 4,890 leprosy patients

New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) The Indian capital is home to 4,890 leprosy patients, of whom over 25 percent are migrants, Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri said Tuesday.

"The leprosy situation in Delhi is a little different from other states (due to the migration). As on April 1, 2007, there were 2,641 cases undergoing treatment for leprosy in 340 health care facilities of Delhi," Shastri said after a review meeting of the leprosy situation in the city.

"But we have detected some 2,249 fresh cases, of which 58 percent were from outside Delhi, mainly Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

"This is a regular feature. This overwhelming migration of people from adjoining states to Delhi is due partly to very good health care services and also good basic amenities in the state," the minister claimed.

India has already achieved the level of elimination of leprosy, which is less than one case per 10,000 population. Delhi's leprosy prevalence is 0.77 per 10,000 population.

He said leprosy still strikes fear in the society, as it is a mutilating, disfiguring and contagious disease. Discrimination against leprosy patients is still prevalent.

Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacteria mycobacterium leprae and it affects mainly the skin and nerves. The symptoms appear very slowly, taking on an average two to five years.

The minister said the state government is taking several steps like medical tests and free medicines to get rid of this health menace.