What is the cause of leprosy?
• Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae.
• M. leprae multiplies very slowly and the incubation period of the disease is about five 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, infected persons.

What are the symptoms?

• Leprosy mainly affects the skin and nerves.
• If untreated, there can be progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes.
• Paucibacillary (PB) leprosy results in one to five numb skin patches. Multibacillary (MB) leprosy results in more than five numb skin patches.

What is the History of Leprosy?

• Leprosy was recognized in the ancient civilizations of China, Egypt and India.
• The first known written mention of leprosy is dated 600 BC.
• Throughout history, the afflicted have often been ostracized by their communities and families.

What is the Treatment?

• Leprosy is a curable disease and treatment provided in the early stages averts disability.
• With minimal training, leprosy can be easily diagnosed on clinical signs alone.
• A World Health Organization (WHO) Study Group recommended multidrug therapy (MDT) in 1981. MDT consists of three drugs: dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine. This drug combination kills the pathogen and cures the patient.
• MDT is safe, effective and easily administered under field conditions.
• Novartis and the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development have made MDT available free of charge to all leprosy patients in the world. Through WHO, this MDT is provided to countries in sufficient supply to treat all people diagnosed with the disease.

To promote political commitment, leadership by ministries of health in endemic countries and partners’ support for leprosy elimination, the Global Alliance for Elimination of Leprosy (GAEL) was created in November 1999. Core members of the Alliance are governments of leprosy endemic countries, the Nippon Foundation, the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP), Novartis and WHO. The Alliance is co-operating closely with other non-governmental organizations, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the World Bank.

Our thanks to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for allowing us to use their information in regard to the above questions and answers.

All WHO Press releases, Fact Sheets and Features, as well as other information on the subject can be obtained on the Internet at the WHO web site: http://www.who.int/lep