#DidYouKnow 26 January is World Leprosy Day? For more than 50 years, on the last Sunday of January, thousands of people across the globe have stopped to remember those who suffer the horrendous effects of leprosy. Key facts * Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae. * Official figures show that almost 182 000 people, mainly in Asia and Africa, were affected at the beginning of 2012, with approximately 219 000 new cases reported during 2011. * Leprosy is not highly infectious. It is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contacts with untreated cases. * Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. * Early diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT) remain the key elements in eliminating the disease as a public health concern.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 09:00:00 +0000
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