He said talso he district is following the health department’s guidelines and has disinfected the students classrooms. Leprosis, known as Hansen’s disease, is communicable typically between people living in close contact. The disease, which is generated by a bacterium, causes deformities and contractures. It’s possible for people to become infected through contact with the animals. It can cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes (including paralysis and blindness), according to the World Health Organization. The treatment is based on antibiotics. Cases of Hansen’s disease in the United States are rare, but they do occur, with about 100 to 200 cases typically reported each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s estimated that, overall, about 6,500 people in the United States have Hansen’s disease.
