Leprosy
Leprosy is a curable chronic infectious disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. It mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves and also the respiratory mucosa and the eyes. Leprosy can affect all ages and both sexes.
Image credit: WHO/TDR/Pasteur Inst.
Recent Updates
February 2008: Notifying a case of leprosy
Throughout history, sufferers have been shunned and often forcibly ostracised by their communities. Leprosy is still a highly stigmatising disease, yet despite its reputation it is not highly infectious.
Transmission usually requires prolonged close contact with an untreated person suffering from an infectious form of leprosy combined with an inherent immunological susceptibility to the disease in the exposed individual. Only 10% of patients with leprosy are infectious if left untreated.