Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease caused by a germ, Mycobacterium leprae. It usually involves the nerves, skin and eyes.

Yes, when untreated. However, even the most contagious patient becomes non-infectious within a few days or weeks of treatment. In addition, very few persons exposed to untreated patients contract the disease because only about five percent of the world's population is even susceptible to it.

Leprosy is transmitted by direct, person-to-person contact, usually repetitive, over a prolonged period of time.

In 2000, 738,284 cases of leprosy were identified worldwide; 91 in the United States. Between 1 million and 2 million people are believed permanently disabled by the disease. Ten countries account for 90 percent of cases: Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Guinea, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal and Tanzania.

Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a bacillus, mycobacterium leprae. Mycobacterium leprae multiplies very slowly. The incubation period is about three to five years but signs and symptoms can take as long as 20 years to appear. Leprosy is not highly infectious. It is transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth or via the skin during close and frequent contact with untreated, infected persons.

Leprosy is a curable disease and when treated in the early stages, disability can be avoided. With minimal training, leprosy can be easily diagnosed on clinical signs alone. A World Health Organization (WHO) Study Group recommended multidrug therapy (MDT) in 1981, in place of monotherapy with dapsone.

Currently less than 300,000 people develop leprosy each year. Since the introduction of MDT in the early 1980s, more than 15 million people around the world have been cured of the disease. Today, it remains a public health problem in only a handful of countries. top

The first sign of leprosy is usually the appearance of patches on the skin. These patches are accompanied by a loss of sensation in the areas affected. top

M. leprae is transmitted primarily through coughing and sneezing. Bacilli are discharged, perhaps on droplets or dust particles that others inhale.

Wild armadillos have been known to be infected with the bacterium that causes leprosy (Hansen's disease). The only cases of transmission from armadillos to humans have occurred in rare incidents in which people ate undercooked armadillo meat.

The ancient perception of Leprosy, found in almost every religion, saw the disease as a God-given curse. To this day, Leprosy in India carries with it a stigma that adds terrible emotional trauma and extreme social ostracism to physical effects of the disease.

There are two words that leprosy-affected people find very objectionable. One is the word leper, the other is the word, native. These words have traditionally had a stigma attached to them. One of the goals of Rising Star Outreach is to bring dignity to those who have been affected by leprosy. Rising Star therefore carefully avoids using these offensive words and requests that others do the same. When referring to those suffering from the disease, the accepted term is "leprosy-affected.

The Indian Government has made great strides in the fight against Leprosy. Padma was instrumental in getting a National Leprosy Day declared by the government. She spoke at several forums across India on that day to help initiate the dissemination of education that has begun to ease some of the public's fears. She is also worked on a television series called, "No Fear, No Fear" that will help to educate the general public further.