Malaysia sees 40 pct rise in leprosy cases in 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia has seen a 40 percent rise in reported cases of leprosy in 2023, the Health Ministry said late on Monday.

There were 256 cases recorded in 2023 compared to 183 cases in 2022 with the rise being attributed to more intensive detection efforts, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said in a statement in conjunction with World Leprosy Day.