Mycobacterium leprae
Leprosy, also known as "Hansen's Disease"
“From that night on, my world would change. I had crusaded to combat prejudice against leprosy patients. I had scoffed at the possibility of contagion, assuring my staff they were in little danger. Now the story of my infection would spread through the ranks of leprosy workers. What would this do to our work?”
The above quote from the book, Pain: The Gift Nobody Wants by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancy, tells of a young doctor donating his time to help leprosy patients in need. The hysteria behind the disease causes many people to shun, avoid, and desert many leprosy patients due to the fears that the disease is highly contagious. Mycobacterium leprae, a bacterial disease known as Leprosy or Hansen’s Disease, has been the concern of millions of people for thousands of years. This website is designed to inform you about several aspects of this disfiguring monster.
Created by Alicia Jaedike
jaedike.alic@students.uwlax.edu
Last updated: April 2008