In 1202, Bodel contracted leprosy and entered a leprosarium. A leprosarium was established on Fantome in 1939. By 1124, King Louis VII established a large leprosarium in the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis. The leprosarium then relocated to Post VII at Tanjung Priok Port. The leprosarium soon became a center for leprosy research. Bedford was at one stage sent to a leprosarium, despite not having leprosy. There was also a leprosarium on the island. Also in 1961, she visited her sister in Vietnam at the leprosarium where Ardel worked. The town is noted for its leprosarium and contains the Msambweni District Hospital. Formerly outside the town, a leprosarium, the "St. Georg" foundation, was established in 1401. In 1814, during the British occupation, the leprosarium was renovated and went into operation again. After the Ionian Islands were united with Greece (1864), the leprosarium only operated when needed.