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This year, we unite around one goal, which is to Beat Leprosy. World Leprosy Day takes place on 31 January 2021*.
*In India, World Leprosy Day is celebrated on 30 January, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s
- Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by a bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae.
- M. leprae multiplies slowly and the incubation period of the disease, on average, is 5 years.
- Symptoms may occur within 1 year but can also take as long as 20 years or even more to occur.
- The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.
- Leprosy is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT).
- Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.
- Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.
- There were 208 619 new leprosy cases registered globally in 2018, according to official figures from 159 countries from the 6 WHO Regions.
- Based on 184 212 cases at the end of 2018, the prevalence rate corresponds to 0.2/10 000.
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