NEWS UPDATE
Leprosy and syphilis - Victorian diseases making a comeback?
Leprosy charity, SFLG, counters fears
Leprosy charity, SFLG, counters fears
16 January 2024, London, UK: in the lead up to World Leprosy Day 2024, St Francis Leprosy Guild assures readers of The Mirror that despite its warning about Victorian diseases making a comeback, there are no signs of an outbreak of leprosy in the UK. 1 4
Yesterday, The Mirror reported that diseases thought to be eradicated are making a comeback in the US and elsewhere. Experts have warned about the return of leprosy and syphilis, as these Dickensian diseases have been diagnosed in the US and other countries. The Mirror speculated that these diseases, often thought to be eradicated, are re-emerging in the US and elsewhere due to falling vaccination rates, lifestyle changes, climate change, and rising living costs.
The Mirror also reported that bacteria are becoming more resistant to antibiotics (a serious problem that health experts have been highlighting for years, caused by their overuse) and this resistance is a threat to public health.
Yesterday, The Mirror reported that diseases thought to be eradicated are making a comeback in the US and elsewhere. Experts have warned about the return of leprosy and syphilis, as these Dickensian diseases have been diagnosed in the US and other countries. The Mirror speculated that these diseases, often thought to be eradicated, are re-emerging in the US and elsewhere due to falling vaccination rates, lifestyle changes, climate change, and rising living costs.
The Mirror also reported that bacteria are becoming more resistant to antibiotics (a serious problem that health experts have been highlighting for years, caused by their overuse) and this resistance is a threat to public health.
SFLG's Acting Director, Katharine Jones
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I can understand anyone's concern about the overuse of antibiotics" said SFLG's Acting Director, Katharine Jones. |
The World Health Organization (WHO) tracks the progress of antimicrobial resistance to the treatment for leprosy, known as Multidrug Therapy (MDT). WHO also follows the development of new tests and technologies to support the detection of antimicrobial resistance to MDT. In 2022, 959 cases of microbial resistance were reported to the WHO, but resistance was not reported to more than one drug in MDT. 1
The leprosy bacterium cannot survive on its own. It must live inside a host or it will die. In southern US, some armadillos are naturally infected with the leprosy bacterium and it is possible that it can spread to humans. The risk is considered low.
SFLG's Programme Manager, Charlotte John
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It's been reported that people catch leprosy from armadillos in the US. But leprosy is very rare there, with fewer than 200 cases last year. We don't have armadillos in the wild here so there is no risk to the public!" |
Leprosy in Medieval Britain and its retreat
During the medieval period, leprosy's disabling consequences were very visible in all communities across England, rural and urban, rich and poor. Its impact changed the landscape of the country and the mindset of its people. However, by the fourteenth century, leprosy was in retreat, possibly due to greater immunity in the population. 3
During the medieval period, leprosy's disabling consequences were very visible in all communities across England, rural and urban, rich and poor. Its impact changed the landscape of the country and the mindset of its people. However, by the fourteenth century, leprosy was in retreat, possibly due to greater immunity in the population. 3
Leprosy in Victorian "Dickensian" times
Although Charles Dickens referred to leprosy in A Tale of Two Cities, Victorian Britain was not concerned about leprosy at home but rather more so in the colonial world.
Between 1870 and 1940, British men and women founded a variety of humanitarian organisations to support the care and treatment of leprosy sufferers, and the eradication of leprosy in the colonial world. These missionary societies, religious charities, and secular health organisations drew on a number of themes to promote charitable support of leprosy: Christianity and evangelisation; the elimination of suffering among vulnerable leprosy patients; and humanitarian and patriotic duty. In 1890, the Prince of Wales launched a National Leprosy Fund, a charity that supported the work of Father Damien, and for the:
Although Charles Dickens referred to leprosy in A Tale of Two Cities, Victorian Britain was not concerned about leprosy at home but rather more so in the colonial world.
Between 1870 and 1940, British men and women founded a variety of humanitarian organisations to support the care and treatment of leprosy sufferers, and the eradication of leprosy in the colonial world. These missionary societies, religious charities, and secular health organisations drew on a number of themes to promote charitable support of leprosy: Christianity and evangelisation; the elimination of suffering among vulnerable leprosy patients; and humanitarian and patriotic duty. In 1890, the Prince of Wales launched a National Leprosy Fund, a charity that supported the work of Father Damien, and for the:
medical treatment and care of people with leprosy in the British Empire, and for the endowment of two studentships, one student to make the United Kingdom and the remainder of Europe his field of investigation, and the other to go abroad and study the disease in India, China, the colonies and elsewhere. 2
In 1895, in that same spirit, English Red Cross nurse, Kate Marsden, founded St Francis Leprosy Guild.
SFLG's Founder, Kate Marsden (New copyright ALAMY)
Where is leprosy found today?
~125 out of 182 countries worldwide reported leprosy to the WHO during 2022. The WHO has identified 23 Global Priority countries for leprosy, where over 95% of the global total of people detected with leprosy are found.
The 23 countries are: Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Madagascar, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia, and Tanzania. Brazil, Indonesia and India between them account for nearly 80% of people with leprosy.1
~125 out of 182 countries worldwide reported leprosy to the WHO during 2022. The WHO has identified 23 Global Priority countries for leprosy, where over 95% of the global total of people detected with leprosy are found.
The 23 countries are: Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Madagascar, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia, and Tanzania. Brazil, Indonesia and India between them account for nearly 80% of people with leprosy.1
A family, from Dindigul, India, whose lives are affected by leprosy. Photo by kind permission of Tom Bradley.
If you'd like to see an end to leprosy, hear about our plans for World Leprosy Day 2024.
Sources
1 WHO WER published 15 September 2023 http://www.who.int/wer
2 Leprosy as a Humanitarian Cause in the British Empire, c. 1890-1960 The National Library of Medicine
3 The Time of Leprosy Historic England
4 Memorandum on Leprosy 2023
1 WHO WER published 15 September 2023 http://www.who.int/wer
2 Leprosy as a Humanitarian Cause in the British Empire, c. 1890-1960 The National Library of Medicine
3 The Time of Leprosy Historic England
4 Memorandum on Leprosy 2023
For other information or interviews please contact:
Katharine Jones
Acting Director
St Francis Leprosy Guild
London W10 6EJ
Tel: +44 (0)7785 510474
Email: [email protected]
Katharine Jones
Acting Director
St Francis Leprosy Guild
London W10 6EJ
Tel: +44 (0)7785 510474
Email: [email protected]
