Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the *bacterium* ***Mycobacterium leprae***. It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and testes. While curable, it can lead to permanent disability if left untreated, mainly affecting people in tropical and subtropical regions.
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Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases, often leading to severe social stigma and isolation throughout history. The bacterium *Mycobacterium leprae* was identified by Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen in 1873, making it the first bacterium ever identified as causing human disease. Its curability with Multi-Drug Therapy since the 1980s has drastically reduced its global burden.
Leprosy is primarily transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with an untreated person who has the disease. It is not highly contagious, and most people are naturally immune to the bacterium. Transmission typically requires prolonged contact, making casual contact with an infected person generally safe.
Contagious Period: Varies by disease
Local health department information and state-specific prevention guidance
Our AI-powered surveillance continuously monitors Leprosy activity across Louisiana. We track data from state health departments, local hospitals, CDC reports, and 50+ global health sources to provide early warning of emerging threats.
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For official state health alerts, vaccination locations, and public health guidance specific to Louisiana, visit your state health department's website.
Whether you live in Louisiana or are traveling there, knowing the symptoms, timeline, and when to seek care helps you act quickly if exposure occurs.
Seek care if you experience severe dehydration, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than 3 days. Children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals should seek care earlier.
Emergency symptoms: Severe dehydration, inability to keep fluids down for 12 or more hours, or neurological symptoms require emergency care.
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Trusted information from leading health organizations
Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
View CDC Resources →Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization
View WHO Resources →Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-13
No confirmed cases reported in Louisiana yet. Here are the latest Leprosy reports from our global surveillance network.
Two new leprosy cases were reported in Brevard County, part of a growing number of Hansen's disease diagnoses that again put Florida near the top of the national list. The Florida Department of Health has confirmed two additional Hansen's disease cases in Brevard County in its l…
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Health stated that under the 2026 Free Health Screening (CKG) program, it identified 13,297 suspected leprosy cases among 25.2 million participants aged one and older. The ministry added screenings for leprosy, scabies, and yaws to th…
The World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), congratulates Chile for becoming the first country in the Americas - and the second globally - to be officially verified as having eliminated leprosy disease. Leprosy (Hansen disease)…
* Chile is the first country in the Americas verified by WHO for eliminating leprosy disease * No locally acquired leprosy cases reported in Chile for over 30 years since 1993 * Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease causing nerve damage and disabilities if untreated Did our …
India remains the highest-burden leprosy country in the world, reporting over 100 000 new cases annually in most recent years and accounting for more than half of global new case detections. Despite achieving WHO’s “elimination as a public health problem” threshold…
Nine-banded armadillos are a common sight across the southern US. You'll find them digging in flower beds and underneath your porch. Sometimes, unfortunately, they unsuccessfully attempt to cross a busy road. They are, for the most part, harmless. But experts say the adorable a…
Alice Augusta Ball lived a very short life. In 24 years, she had remarkable achievements, and was predictably forgotten for a while, until the world was shaken up to her brilliance. Her work on distilling chaulmoogra oil for use as effective treatment for leprosy brought hope to …
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has given his full support to the Sasakawa Foundation, which is committed to helping Indonesia eliminate leprosy. This was announced by Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Honorary Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and Chairman o…
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