Rise in leprosy cases reported in Ilocos

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — Leprosy accounts for the second highest number of patients seeking treatment at the dermatology department at the Region 1 Medical Center.

“We have a quite high census of leprosy because we are a referral center of the entire Region 1,” May Gonzales, a dermatologist at the hospital, told a news forum.

Gonzales said the cases referred to the hospital are “complicated” or those not diagnosed in rural health units.

“We give them proper management... free medication and... contact tracing of the family,” she said.

“It is not a highly contagious as some people think... Upon treatment, even with only with a single dose of rifampicin, patientsw are 85 percent non-infectious,” Gonzales said.