Mountain rehab center houses disease survivors

GUANGZHOU — Nestled deep in Maofeng Mountain in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, a small rehabilitation center has become home to over 30 leprosy survivors.

The chronic infectious disease, which typically leads to permanent damage such as skin lesions and physical deformities, once brought profound suffering to humanity worldwide.

Guangdong used to have a high prevalence of leprosy. As the disease was infectious and there were no effective medicines at that time, China adopted centralized isolation and treatment for the patients in remote locations, according to Ling Hanyi, who's in charge of the rehabilitation center, which was once a major treatment venue for leprosy patients.