What Is Leprosy?
Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease, is a chronic infectious disease affecting the skin, nose, limbs, and upper respiratory tract. It can be caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Leprosy has been known to affect humanity since ancient times. It is mentioned in the literature of ancient civilizations, including Atharvaveda, an ancient Hindu scripture. However, leprosy is also a modern disease, affecting 208,000 people worldwide each year.
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