Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease. It is a curable infectious disease that causes skin lesions and nerve damage. Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It affects the dermis, nerves, mucous membrane in the airway, and the eyes (WHO). Anyone at any age is able to have this disease. There are at least three million people who are living with some kind of disability from leprosy. Leprosy used to be most common in Europe until it slowly went away. In the past when leprosy was more common, people would be shunned for having this terrible disease. In Europe during the Middle Ages, the people who had leprosy had to wear a special type of clothing, ring bells to let others know the people that were infected were near, and the people with
