Did you know.. World Leprosy Day is celebrated on the 31st January this year, and raises awareness of the disease that many people believe to be extinct.
What is Leprosy?
According to The Leprosy Mission Australia (2020), leprosy is a neglected tropical disease caused by bacteria. Leprosy is thought to be contracted when a person affected by leprosy coughs or sneezes, and a vulnerable person breathes in the droplets containing the bacterium.
Leprosy is curable and rarely affects people in modern Australia.
Effects of leprosy:
According to The Leprosy Mission Australia (2020), leprosy can affect people physically, but it can also destroy their psychological and social health. Some effects include the following:
- Skin patches
- Nerve damage
- Sensation loss
- Ulcers
- Deformity
- Stigma
Treatment:
Leprosy is completely curable through antibiotic treatment.
Triple Zero Leprosy Strategy:
The Leprosy Mission Australia is striving for zero leprosy transmission, zero disability and zero discrimination by 2035. If you would like to donate – click here https://www.leprosymission.org.au/give-now-landing-page/