Romania confirms first leprosy case in over 40 years, three more under investigation

Update: Corina Criste, director of the Cluj Public Health Directorate (DSP), told Agerpres on Friday, December 12, that a second case of leprosy detected in Cluj-Napoca has also been confirmed. According to the cited source, the person concerned requires treatment.

Initial story: Romania has confirmed its first case of leprosy in more than 40 years, with three other suspected cases currently under clinical and microbiological investigation, health minister Alexandru Rogobete announced on Thursday, December 11. All four individuals are women from Asia who were employed as masseuses at a spa salon in Cluj-Napoca.

The first two patients, aged 21 and 25, sought medical care at the Cluj County Emergency Hospital on November 26, after developing skin lesions that raised epidemiological concerns, the minister said.

Medical investigations included skin tissue biopsies, one of which tested positive for acid-fast bacilli, supporting the diagnosis of Hansen’s disease. Genetic testing using the GeneXpert MTB/Rif ULTRA method ruled out tuberculosis, while further histopathological examinations and Ziehl-Neelsen smears are ongoing to confirm infection with Mycobacterium leprae in the remaining suspected cases.

Based on current laboratory data, one case has been confirmed, while the other three patients remain under medical and epidemiological monitoring.

Health authorities have taken immediate measures to prevent any potential spread. These include comprehensive ozone disinfection of all areas used by employees, intensified cleaning procedures with approved biocides, inspections of changing rooms and storage spaces, mandatory occupational health assessments for staff, and the expansion of the epidemiological investigation, minster Rogobete said.

The Health Ministry, through the Public Health Directorate, has also ordered the temporary suspension of the spa salon’s activity until the investigation is concluded.

Specific treatment in line with World Health Organization protocols has already been initiated. The minister emphasized that once treatment begins, the risk of transmission drops significantly and ultimately disappears.

Officials stressed that leprosy is a slowly progressing disease with low contagiousness and requires prolonged exposure for transmission. The disease is not spread through casual contact such as handshakes, hugs, brief proximity, use of public transport, or shared spaces.