Yucatán health authorities report leprosy case and leishmaniasis rise

Mexico's Federal Health Secretariat confirmed the first leprosy case in Yucatán for 2026, ending a nine‑month period with no reported infections. The case was identified in a man during epidemiological week 29. Across the Yucatán Peninsula, four leprosy patients have now been recorded this year, with Quintana Roo accounting for three cases and Campeche none. Nationwide, there are 41 active leprosy patients, the highest concentration remaining in Guerrero.

In parallel, Yucatán health officials reported a surge in cutaneous leishmaniasis, reaching 22 confirmed cases in 2026—20 men and two women—surpassing the total recorded in all of 2025. Ten new infections were reported in a single epidemiological week, prompting intensified surveillance. At the national level, 382 leishmaniasis cases have been confirmed, led by Quintana Roo (245), followed by Tabasco (69) and Campeche (35). Authorities advise residents and workers in forested or rural areas to wear long sleeves, use insect repellent, and seek medical care for persistent skin lesions.