Things you didn’t know about leprosy transmission
There’s a lot that we don’t know about leprosy transmission, but some of things we do know, you might find surprising. Below you can find out some of the more unusual things about the transmission of the disease.
Hansen's disease (also known as leprosy) is an infection caused by a slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
The primary way that leprosy is transmitted is through droplets of moisture passing through the air (through coughing or sneezing) from an infectious person who has leprosy, but has not been treated with multi-drug therapy (MDT).
1. Leprosy bacteria can survive in soil
Leprosy bacteria cannot survive on its own. It must live inside of a ‘host’ or even in the best conditions, it will die within a few days. The smallest host a leprosy bacteria could infect is an amoeba and American researchers have demonstrated that common soil amoeba found worldwide could host leprosy bacteria and keep it alive for months in a lab.
This means it can be possible to contract leprosy through exposure to dust and dirt in the air above soil that is infected by leprosy. It is also possible to contract leprosy if an open wound comes in contact with that soil.
2. Leprosy can be transmitted through open wounds
There is evidence for skin-based transmission from leprosy, particular in children. Open cuts or wounds on elbows, knees, and feet that are exposed to leprosy bacteria can lead to infection.
If there is a risk of a cut or wound becoming infected, with leprosy or any other infection, it is important to clean, dress, and cover the wound appropriately.
3. You cannot be infected with leprosy under certain circumstances
You cannot get leprosy through casual contact with someone who has leprosy such as:
Leprosy is also not transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, and it is not sexually transmitted.
If a person contracts leprosy, whether from the more common method of transmission, or through one of these more unusual methods, it is easy to treat with a free course of medication known as multi-drug therapy (MDT). However, if left untreated it can be a devastating disease, so if you live in an endemic area (in many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America), it’s important to know the signs and symptoms.