Health Min. denies reports of ART causing leprosy among AIDS patient

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) The Health Ministry today denied media reports that Anti-Retro Viral Therapy (ART) taken for treatment of HIV/AIDS could cause increased incidence of leprosy among patients.

''It must be clear that ARV drugs are in no way related to enhancing the risk of Leprosy,'' an official release said here.

Pointing out to reports of some HIV positive people developing leprosy after they were administered ministry said it may be noted that all HIV infected people have varying degree of immune deficiency.

When they are started on ART, there is restoration of immunity leading to flaring up of previously dormant infections like TB, herpes etc.

These infections respond to usual treatment and do not require discontinuation of ART.

Currently, there are nearly 42,000 patients on free ART in India under National ART Programme in two years of roll out of ART there are no reports of any patient developing Leprosy after the start of Anti Retroviral Therapy.

UNI AJ AK VC1912