A representative from the National Centre for Tubercolosis and Leprosy Control at the Ministry of Health is attending a three-day meeting co-ordinated by the World Health Organisation to push for leprosy control in the region.

CENAT director Mao Tan Eang said yesterday that although the prevalence of leprosy in Cambodia was less than one case per 10,000 people and had not been a public-health problem since 1998, new cases still occurred.

“Although we have low prevalence, we still consider [leprosy] one of our priorities,” he said, adding that his colleague was attending the meeting in Manila.

A WHO statement released yesterday which detailed the meeting said that more than 5,000 new cases of leprosy were reported in the region each year.