Worker on ship housing Games security staff has leprosy

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - A worker on a cruise ship housing police and Canadian armed forces working at the Olympics has been treated for leprosy but was no threat to public health, a Vancouver Coastal Health spokeswoman said on Friday.

The worker was diagnosed with the disease on Thursday, she said, but worked in the ship's engine room and had no contact with the security personnel staying on it during the February 12-28 Games.

"This disease is very treatable and not considered highly contagious. His life is not in danger," she added. "We have a handful of cases of people on ships coming into Vancouver every year."

(Writing by Jon Bramley; Editing by Ed Osmond)