Leprosy's ancient curse still strikes the people of Myanmar's borderlands

High in the hills of Myanmar's war-torn borderlands, a clutch of new leprosy cases among communities virtually cut off from medical help is a sign that the country's battle with the ancient disease is far from over.

It took six days by plane, boat, motorcycle and bus - plus an arduous mountain trek - for medical workers to treat two leprosy patients in a remote corner of the country, where access to even basic medicines is a dream.

But the charity-funded medics were also looking for evidence that the disease had spread. They soon found three more leprosy sufferers, one requiring hospital care.

"I promised him that I would come back for him or I would send someone to pick him up," said Dr Saw Hsar Mu Lar, after the May expedition, as he returned to his hospital in Mawlamyaing - one of only two specialising in leprosy in Myanmar.

Weeks later the patient was still waiting to travel as tensions between the army and rebels closed transportation routes.

Myanmar reached so-called "elimination" status for leprosy in 2003 - meaning less than one person per 10,000 has the illness.

But there are still about 3,000 new cases found each year and medical workers warn that the disease could be on the rise.