What is Hansen’s disease?
Hansen’s disease is a type of infectious disease. (1)
What causes Hanssen’s disease?
Hansen’s disease is caused by Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. (2)
spread between people, although extensive contact is necessary. (2)
95% of people who contract Mycobacterium leprae do not develop the disease. (2)
What are symptoms of Hansen’s disease?
Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. (2)
This nerve damage may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts of a person’s extremities from repeated injuries or infection through unnoticed wounds. (1)
muscle weakness and poor eyesight (1)
In the 1980s, there were 5.2 million cases globally but they went down to less than 0.2 million by 2020. (2)
It is curable. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides treatments free of charge. (2)
Resources
1. What leprosy and armadillos have to do with tyour liver, SciShow, 2/16/2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PipGic1RIGs
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy
