A total of 7,808 new leprosy patients were identified during April to November 2013 in the State and the percentage of the affected persons are high in five districts, Subarnapur, Boudh, Balangir, Bargarh and Jharsuguda.
This was revealed at a review meeting on the National leprosy and Tuberculosis (TB) Eradication Programme chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodar Rout here on Tuesday.
The Minister directed the concerned officials to expedite the identification drive and early treatment to avoid disability with the patients.
The meeting revealed that in 1982, when the National leprosy Programme was launched in the State, the percentage of the leprosy patients was 121.4 in every 10,000 people.
While the rate came down to 0.65 per cent in 2006-07 and increased to 0.98 in March 2013, the percentage further rose up to 1.5 per cent in November last year.
Besides, the Minister directed the officials to increase the TB identification rate to 70 per cent which now stands at 50 per cent.