Leprosy

Why in news?

• NHRC asks Centre government and various state governments to amend laws that are discriminatory towards leprosy patients.

More about the news

• NHRC Identified 97 Acts and Rules enacted by the Centre and states as having provisions that are discriminatory towards leprosy patients.
• The commission asked authorities to ensure that no person suffering from leprosy or any of his family members is discriminated against and denied all or any of the right to healthcare, employment, education and land rights.

Leprosy:

• Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
• It multiplies slowly and the incubation period of the disease, on average, is 5 years. Symptoms may occur within 1 year but can also take as long as 20 years or even more.
• Leprosy mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.

Transmission:

• Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.

Cure:

• Leprosy is completely curable now with multidrug therapy (MDT), a combination of three antibiotics.

India and Leprosy:

• As per the World Health Organization; India accounts for 56.61 per cent of the global caseload, followed by Brazil and Indonesia.
• It is estimated that in India, there are over one million people with visible deformities due to leprosy and around 750 ‘leprosy colonies’ where over 200 thousand people live marginalised lives.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Which of the following statements are correct regarding Leprosy disease?

1. It is a contagious viral disease

2. It mainly affects the skin

3. India accounts for more than half of the global caseload of Leprosy

Select the correct answer using code given below

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer