{"id":4227,"date":"2024-02-05T16:31:31","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T21:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umedoc.com\/?p=4227"},"modified":"2024-02-05T16:31:33","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T21:31:33","slug":"is-there-leprosy-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umedoc.com\/es\/is-there-leprosy-in-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Is There Leprosy in The US?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Though rare, there are cases of leprosy every year in the United States. Around 150 to 250 cases per year are diagnosed in the US. Most cases in the US involve people who have lived in areas where leprosy is more prevalent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Leprosy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leprosy is also known as Hansen\u2019s disease. It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. Mycobacterium leprae <\/em>is a bacterium that is slow growing and could take up to 20 years to show signs of infection. The disease can attack the nerves, skin, eyes, and nasal mucosa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transmission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A prolonged period of contact is necessary for an affected person to spread the disease to another person. It cannot be passed from mother to unborn child or sexual transmission. Because the bacterium is slow growing, it is hard to find the start of infection. Armadillos in the southern US may be a source of transmission as some carry the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hansen’s disease, closeup hands of old man suffering from leprosy, amputated hands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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