How many cases of leprosy are there in the world?

How many cases of leprosy are there in the world?

There were 202 256 new leprosy cases registered globally in 2019, according to official figures from 161 countries from the 6 WHO Regions. Based on 178 371 cases at the end of 2019, the prevalence corresponds to 22.9 per million population.

How many cases of leprosy are there a year?

Globally, over 200,000 cases of leprosy are diagnosed every year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States, there are just 150 to 250 cases diagnosed annually.

How much leprosy is in the world today?

Today, about 208,000 people worldwide are infected with leprosy, according to the World Health Organization, most of them in Africa and Asia.

Where do leper colonies still exist?

Leprosy has been a fully curable disease since the 1940s and, in September 2016, health officials even introduced an effective vaccine for the malady. Yet hundreds of quarantine sites called leper colonies still exist — most of them in India.

Is leprosy contagious disease?

Leprosy is contagious but is considered to be only mildly contagious. However, acquisition of the disease usually occurs after long-term (months to years) contact with an untreated individual with the disease.

What causes leprosy disease?

Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the nerves of the extremities, the skin, the lining of the nose, and the upper respiratory tract. Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease.

What is the history of leprosy?

The history of leprosy was traced by geneticists in 2005 through its origins and worldwide distribution using comparative genomics. They determined that leprosy originated in East Africa or the Near East and traveled with humans along their migration routes, including those of trade in goods and slaves.