<p>The Centre has expressed concern at re-emergence of leprosy cases in certain pockets of the eighth North Eastern states which have reported 747 new cases.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Except four districts of Assam which recorded higher prevalence of leprosy than the national average, the NE region is otherwise considered low endemic states.<br /><br />"It is a concern that the disease is re-emerging in certain pockets in the north east," Dr C M Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Lep), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said.<br /><br />The north eastern states reported 747 new cases in a year till September 30 with Assam recording the maximum 616 cases, Agrawal told PTI on the sidelines of a regional review meeting of state leprosy officers of the region.<br /><br />Assam is followed by Nagaland (32), Tripura (23), Sikkim (20), Mizoram (18), Arunachal Pradesh (17), Meghalaya (15) and Manipur (six).<br /><br />In Assam, the most affected districts were Sivsagar and Tinsukia which recorded 99 and 87 new cases followed by 42 in Sonitpur, 39 in Kamrup Metro and 38 in Cachar district, B L Deori, Jt Director of Health Services in Assam, said.<br /><br />All the other districts, except Chirang and Dima Hasao, registered new cases but their number is fewer.<br /><br />Deori said the annual new case detection rate is 3.57 per one lakh population with 63 child cases this year alone, and over 1000 cases under treatment.<br /><br />Nine paramedical workers were also appointed in the most affected districts, she said.<br /><br />In Nagaland, K V Kimiki, State Leprosy Officer, said 30 cases were reported from Dimapur, while one each was reported from Kohima and Mokukchung districts.<br />Tripura reported 23 new cases and 69 patients are undergoing treatment, the official said.</p>
<p>The Centre has expressed concern at re-emergence of leprosy cases in certain pockets of the eighth North Eastern states which have reported 747 new cases.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Except four districts of Assam which recorded higher prevalence of leprosy than the national average, the NE region is otherwise considered low endemic states.<br /><br />"It is a concern that the disease is re-emerging in certain pockets in the north east," Dr C M Agrawal, Deputy Director General (Lep), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said.<br /><br />The north eastern states reported 747 new cases in a year till September 30 with Assam recording the maximum 616 cases, Agrawal told PTI on the sidelines of a regional review meeting of state leprosy officers of the region.<br /><br />Assam is followed by Nagaland (32), Tripura (23), Sikkim (20), Mizoram (18), Arunachal Pradesh (17), Meghalaya (15) and Manipur (six).<br /><br />In Assam, the most affected districts were Sivsagar and Tinsukia which recorded 99 and 87 new cases followed by 42 in Sonitpur, 39 in Kamrup Metro and 38 in Cachar district, B L Deori, Jt Director of Health Services in Assam, said.<br /><br />All the other districts, except Chirang and Dima Hasao, registered new cases but their number is fewer.<br /><br />Deori said the annual new case detection rate is 3.57 per one lakh population with 63 child cases this year alone, and over 1000 cases under treatment.<br /><br />Nine paramedical workers were also appointed in the most affected districts, she said.<br /><br />In Nagaland, K V Kimiki, State Leprosy Officer, said 30 cases were reported from Dimapur, while one each was reported from Kohima and Mokukchung districts.<br />Tripura reported 23 new cases and 69 patients are undergoing treatment, the official said.</p>