Romania’s last confirmed case of leprosy was during the communist regime, 44 years ago.
Romanian authorities say two masseuses have been diagnosed with leprosy at a spa in the northwestern city of Cluj. They are the first confirmed cases of the disease in more than 40 years.
The Indonesian nationals aged 21 and 25, were being treated and two others are being tested, the Romanian Health Ministry said.
Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete said customers at the spa should not worry, as the disease requires extended exposure to pass on.
One of the patients had recently returned from Asia, where she had spent a month with her mother who was currently in hospital with leprosy Rogobete was quoted as saying by state news agency Agerpres.
Authorities had shut down the spa pending an investigation, health officials said. Romania’s last confirmed case of leprosy was detected 44 years ago, the ministry said.
