He said the deceased was an 18-year-old girl at Kampung Chergun who had suffered from a fever for a week, Kosmo reported.

Eight other Orang Asli villagers, between the ages of seven to 85, have also been infected with the disease since Jan 2 following which Kampung Chergun and Kampung Guntur were placed under quarantine by health authorities.

“We have also asked for the Jeram Tengkek (forest eco park) nearby the villages to be closed temporarily in view of these leprosy cases. The disease is communicable and we are looking to curb its spread,” Aminuddin was quoted as saying.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is an infection caused by a slow-growing bacteria called mycobacterium leprae. Victims could end up handicapped or lose functions in their hands or joints due to the disease.

The number of leprosy cases reported in the country in 2021 was 142. This had increased to 183 in 2022 and 256 in 2023.

The health ministry has set its sights on recording zero new local leprosy cases by 2030.