Srinagar, Jul 14: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has declared leprosy a 'Notifiable Disease' across the Union Territory, making it mandatory for all healthcare establishments to report every diagnosed case to the authorities. The Health and Medical Education Department issued a notification in exercise of powers conferred under Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, stating that leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is a chronic infectious disease that primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes. Although the disease is curable, delayed diagnosis and untreated cases can result in permanent disabilities and continued transmission within communities.