If you thought leprosy was just a pandemic only talked in the Bible and other old books, you better think again for as we speak, there is an outbreak of leprosy in Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia) with nine reported cases so far and one death of an 18-year-old girl four days ago.
The reported cases were in the villages of Kampung Orang Asli Chergun and Guntur in Kuala Pilah and those infected are currently receiving treatment. The state authorities have quarantined these two villages as a precaution to contain the spread of the disease.
Malaysia was one of the pioneers in the global fight against the disease in the 1980s and even achieved the World Health Organization’s (WHO) elimination target to less than 1 case per 10,000 people in 1991. There are worries of a more mutated leprosy that might be hard to contain.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease or kusta in Malay, is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. The disease is one of the oldest infectious diseases known to mankind with earliest evidence dating back to 4,000 years ago in India.
It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces, and eyes, and if left untreated, it can lead to severe long-term complications. Despite the historical stigma surrounding the disease, leprosy is now understood to be a disease that is both treatable and preventable, with early diagnosis being key to preventing disability.
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