BY KATIE MERCER, THE PROVINCE FEBRUARY 19, 2010

Health officials have confirmed a crew member aboard a cruise ship housing the Olympic security force has been diagnosed with leprosy.

“There is no public health risk associated with this case and the crew member, who did not work in a service or passenger support role,” the government said in a news release.

Officials say members of the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (ISU), a consortium of municipal, RCMP and Canadian military personnel who police the Winter Games, are not considered at risk of contracting the disease.

The employee, who is not a Canadian resident, is undergoing treatment since being diagnosed on Feb. 18.

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a bacterium that affects the nervous system. It focuses on cooler parts of the body such as skin and peripheral nerves, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are two types of Hansen’s disease, one milder while the more serious can lead to symptoms such as skin lesions, nodules, plaques and thickened skin.

The disease is curable and not considered highly contagious.