World Leprosy Day 2019: "Ending Discrimination, Stigma and Prejudice"

The old bacterial infection, leprosy, was declared "elimination" as a global public health problem in 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2005, but it has not disappeared and around 220,000 new cases are reported each year worldwide.

More than half of the cases are reported in India, while Brazil and Indonesia are among the most affected countries.

Every year, on the last Sunday of January, World Leprosy Day raises awareness about this potentially debilitating and disfiguring disease. This year's theme is the fight against discrimination, stigma and prejudice.

According to the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations, the majority of people affected by leprosy suffer some form of stigma and discrimination. Up to half of them will be facing mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.

Hansen's disease, formerly known as leprosy, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae).

Although the mode of transmission of Hansen's disease is not clearly defined, most researchers believe that M. leprae is usually transmitted from person to person in respiratory droplets as a result of close and prolonged contact with a person. infected, for example in the same household.

Leprosy is one of the least infectious diseases because it is slowly growing and the vast majority of people enjoy sufficient natural immunity. Do not contract the disease if you contract it.

People who develop a clinical illness can present a wide range of clinical manifestations, but usually develop infections involving the skin, peripheral nerves and nasal mucosa.

HAART is available free of charge from WHO and has been distributed to all patients worldwide by Novartis since 2000 (and previously by the Nippon Foundation since 1995). It provides a simple but very effective treatment for all types of leprosy.

Please, support #WorldLeprosyDay to help raise awareness about the impact of discrimination and social stigma on people affected by leprosy and how these negative attitudes hinder efforts to stop leprosy the spread of the disease.