Leprosy Is Not Quite Yet A Disease Of The Past
In 2006, the World Health Organization issued a report on the "elimination of leprosy as a public health problem." A new report estimates there are still 200,000 new cases a year.
Leprosy is an ancient disease, a Biblical curse and even in the 21st century a cultural shame so severe that in some countries patients are sent to live in isolated colonies or tossed out of their own homes.
"I met a woman whose husband and children forced her to live in the cow shed," says Gareth Shrubshole, programs and advocacy officer at the Leprosy Mission. "Her boys refused to share a meal with their own mother." That was in India.
That may be a bit surprising — leprosy seems to be a disease of
