Leprosy detected in spa center workers in Romania
According to official data from the Romanian Ministry of Health, two massage therapists from Indonesia working at a spa center in Cluj have now contracted leprosy. These are the first cases of this disease in European Union countries in over 40 years.
The two women, aged 21 and 25, are receiving treatment, and two more individuals are being tested for infection. Doctors are urging spa visitors to remain calm, as leprosy only transmits through prolonged close contact.
Government measures and review of leprosy symptoms
In response to this epidemiological investigation, the authorities temporarily closed the spa center. The last recorded case of the disease in Romania was 44 years ago.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. The disease can affect the skin, peripheral nerves, mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.
Symptoms of leprosy include skin changes, ulcers on the feet, nodules, nerve hypertrophy, weakness or paralysis, loss of hair on the eyebrows or eyelashes, and eye problems.
Other medical news
In the USA, one of the longest cases of Covid-19 was recorded: a patient battled the disease for 776 days. Two new subvariants of the coronavirus that are rapidly spreading worldwide have also been identified in Ukraine.
The first cases of leprosy have been identified in Romania in over 40 years among spa center workers. Doctors announced a temporary suspension of the facility's operations for an epidemiological investigation. Leprosy, although rare, requires attention to symptoms and doctors' recommendations.