Malaysia recorded a 15.5 percent increase in new leprosy cases in 2022, with 164 cases compared to 142 in 2021, said Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa. Malaysia had 181 leprosy cases in 2020.

In conjunction with yesterday’s 2023 World Leprosy Day, themed “Act Now: End Leprosy”, Zaliha said in a statement that the increase was a result of active detection in endemic localities carried out by health personnel at the district level.

“The Health Ministry remains committed to...