Leprosy fact sheet (‎revised in February 2010)‎

Overview

Key facts

• Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. The number of leprosy cases reported to WHO shows that >213 000 people are infected, mainly in the African and South-East Asia regions, with approximately 249 000 new cases reported in 2008.
• M. leprae multiplies very slowly, and the incubation period of the disease is about 5 years; symptoms can take as long as 20 years to appear.
• 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.