Mycobacterium leprae

Myth: Leprosy is a curse to those who have sinned.

Reality: Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacteria mycobacterium leprae. It is not a curse, and usually is spread where favorable conditions occur—where there is pollution, contaminated water, insufficient food and diet, and poverty.

Myth: Leprosy is no longer an issue.

Reality: While leprosy has decreased in the number of cases worldwide, there are still many places which have Leprosy as an epidemic. Because a lot of the controversy of the “contagiousness” of the disease has started to go down, people have not been paying as much attention. However, leprosy is still a serious disease that effects millions of people around the world.

Myth: Leprosy is extremely contagious and if you touch an infected person, you WILL get it.

Reality: While contraction of the disease is still unclear and transmittance due to touch seems to be the most logical proposal, it is not extremely contagious. As stated before, only about 5% of people are able to contact the disease, because the majorities (95% of people) have natural immunities. Doctors work with leprosy patients all over the world and rarely contract the disease.

Myth: Leprosy is hereditary

Reality: Leprosy is a disease, and cannot be contracted genetically. It could, however, be spread from parent to child due to close contact.

Half Myth:  Leprosy is incurable and there is nothing you can do.

Reality:  While leprosy IS incurable, there are treatments that can help people live ordinary lives. By taking MDT (multi-drug therapy) treatments, symptoms of the disease can practically vanish and people can live their lives without spreading the disease to others.