Why in News ? 

World Leprosy Day is observed globally on the last Sunday of January. In India, it is marked annually on 30^th January, aligning with Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary. 

Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) 

• Cause & Transmission 
  • Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. 
  • It affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and mucosal surfaces. 
  • Transmission occurs through droplets from the nose and mouth during prolonged contact with untreated cases. 
• Classification 
  • Paucibacillary (PB): Smear-negative cases with a low bacterial load. 
  • Multibacillary (MB): Smear-positive cases, more infectious. 
• Treatment: 
  • Leprosy is curable, and early treatment prevents disability. 
  • Multi-drug therapy (MDT) includes dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine, provided free of cost by WHO since 1995. 
• Global Burden 
  • Leprosy is reported in 120+ countries, with over 200,000 new cases annually. 
  • In 2022, 182 countries reported 1.65 lakh cases, mostly in Africa and South-East Asia. 
• India and Leprosy 
  • India achieved leprosy elimination as a public health problem in 2005 (less than 1 case per 10,000 population). 
  • The prevalence rate remains at 0.4 per 10,000, and it is still endemic in some states and UTs.