Confirmed leprosy case shuts down high-end spa in city with tens of thousands of Hungarians

The State Health Surveillance Authority and the Cluj Public Health Directorate have disinfected all areas of the spa, are screening all staff members, and have expanded epidemiological checks. The ministry has also ordered the suspension of all salon activities until the investigation is complete.

The confirmed patient has already begun treatment recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Once therapy starts, international guidelines indicate that the risk of transmission rapidly decreases and eventually disappears.

Leprosy poses extremely low risk to the public

Health officials emphasise that leprosy is a slow-progressing bacterial illness caused by Mycobacterium leprae and is considered to have very low infectious potential, Telex writes. Transmission requires prolonged and repeated exposure to an untreated patient. It cannot spread through handshakes, hugs, using public transport, or sharing common spaces.

A rare disease in Europe

While the disease remains extremely rare in Europe, sporadic cases do appear, most often involving individuals from regions where leprosy is still endemic, including parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Romania’s last known leprosy case was recorded more than four decades ago, in 1981.

• Surge in congenital syphilis cases in Hungary: 21 infant deaths this year