About the Disease

Also called Hansen's disease, leprosy has afflicted people since ancient times. It is a complex infectious disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. It mainly affects the peripheral nerves, but may also affect the skin, eyes, inner lining of nasal passages, muscles, bones and testes.

People who have had leprosy for a long time may lose the use of their hands or feet due to repeated injury resulting from lack of sensation.

100 cases of leprosy are reported per year in the United States.

Leprosy is common in many countries in the world, especially in temperate, tropical and subtropical climates. It is estimated that there are between one and two million people currently affected.

Effective medications exist. Although isolation in "leper" colonies used to be more common, that kind of isolation, thankfully, is no longer needed.