Confirmed leprosy case in Cluj-Napoca. Ministry of Health: Risk for the general population remains low

A case of leprosy (Hansen’s disease) was confirmed on Thursday, while three others are undergoing clinical and microbiological assessment, the Ministry of Health reported. All individuals involved are employed as massage therapists at a SPA salon in Cluj-Napoca.

According to the Ministry, the first two patients — aged 21 and 25, originally from Indonesia — presented to Cluj County Emergency Clinical Hospital on November 26. In one of them, a skin biopsy revealed acid-fast bacilli (3 AFB/100 fields), and the GeneXpert genetic test ruled out infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Ongoing Ziehl-Neelsen smears and histopathological analyses support the suspicion of Mycobacterium leprae infection. Based on the available data, one case has been confirmed, while the other three remain under clinical and epidemiological monitoring.

Immediate measures implemented by authorities

The State Sanitary Inspection and Cluj Public Health Directorate have enforced strict measures to limit risks:
– ozone disinfection in all operational spaces;
– inspection of changing rooms and individual storage areas;
– intensified cleaning with approved biocides;
– occupational health evaluations for employees;
– expansion of the epidemiological investigation.

The SPA facility has suspended its activity until the investigations are completed. The patients have begun WHO-recommended treatment, and once therapy is initiated, the risk of transmission drops significantly and eventually disappears.

Medical clarifications for the public

The Ministry stresses that leprosy is a slow-evolving disease with low contagiousness, requiring prolonged exposure for transmission. It is not transmitted through handshakes, hugging, brief proximity, use of shared spaces, or public transport.

Due to the slow development of the bacterium, identifying the source of infection is difficult. The last documented case of leprosy in Romania dates back to 1981.

Additional measures at national and international level

The Minister of Health has ordered enhanced epidemiological surveillance, expanded testing of contacts, and assessment of the working and living conditions of foreign employees. Romania has also requested assistance from WHO and ECDC to validate diagnostic protocols and support further monitoring.

“The risk for the general population remains low, and the situation is being managed with maximum responsibility,” the Ministry emphasized, noting that health authorities monitor the evolution of the cases daily.