World Leprosy Day is observed globally on the last Sunday of January each year. In 2026, World Leprosy Day fell on 25 January. The official World Leprosy Day theme 2026 is “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma,” highlighting that although effective treatment exists, social attitudes remain the greatest barrier to elimination.
India follows a different practice. The country marks World Leprosy Day annually on 30 January, coinciding with Martyrs’ Day, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. This date reflects Gandhi’s lifelong compassion for people affected by leprosy and his efforts to promote dignity, inclusion, and humane care.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is among the oldest recorded human diseases. References to a condition resembling leprosy appear in texts from India, China, and Egypt, suggesting its presence thousands of years ago. The illness is caused primarily by Mycobacterium leprae, a slow-growing bacterium identified in 1873 by Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, making leprosy the first human disease linked to a specific bacterial pathogen.
Unlike many infectious agents, M. leprae multiplies extremely slowly. After exposure, symptoms may take several years to appear. The bacterium mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves, and untreated disease can lead to sensory loss, muscle weakness, and long-term disability.
Transmission typically requires prolonged close contact with an untreated person over months; casual contact does not usually spread the disease. Importantly, around 95 percent of people have natural immunity, meaning most individuals exposed do not develop leprosy.
Yes, leprosy is curable with appropriate medical treatment and early diagnosis, and multidrug therapy (MDT) stops transmission and prevents disability when started promptly.
Early detection is essential. Key symptoms of leprosy include:
Pale or reddish skin patches with reduced sensation
Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
Loss of sensation that may lead to injuries
Inflammatory reactions (Type 1 and Type 2) that need medical management
Prompt treatment prevents progression to nerve damage and long-term disability.
Leprosy reactions are sudden inflammatory episodes that can occur before, during, or after treatment. They are caused by the body’s immune response to the bacteria and are not a sign of treatment failure. Prompt medical care is essential to prevent nerve damage and disability.
Type 1 Reaction (Reversal Reaction)
Existing skin patches become red, swollen, and painful
Nerves may become tender or enlarged
Sudden numbness or muscle weakness may appear
Mainly affects nerves and can lead to permanent disability if untreated
Treated with corticosteroids such as prednisolone, while multidrug therapy continues
Type 2 Reaction (Erythema Nodosum Leprosum, ENL)
Painful red nodules on the skin
Fever, fatigue, and joint pain
May involve eyes, testes, lymph nodes, or kidneys
Can be recurrent and affect multiple organs
Managed with corticosteroids and, in selected cases, medicines like clofazimine or thalidomide, alongside ongoing multidrug therapy
In simple terms: These reactions are immune flare-ups triggered by dying bacteria. Early treatment protects nerves and prevents long-term disability.
Since the 1980s, the World Health Organization has recommended multidrug therapy (MDT), a combination of antibiotics provided free of cost in endemic countries. Completion of MDT stops transmission and prevents disability when started promptly. Today, effective treatment has transformed leprosy from a lifelong condition into a curable disease.
Despite this progress, delayed diagnosis remains a challenge in many regions, largely due to fear, misinformation, and leprosy stigma and discrimination.
Humans are the primary hosts of Mycobacterium leprae, but the bacterium is also found in nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus). These animals, native to the Americas, have body temperatures that allow the bacterium to survive.
In parts of the southern United States, scientific studies have confirmed transmission of leprosy from armadillos to humans, usually through direct handling or close contact. While such cases are relatively uncommon, they demonstrate that leprosy has a zoonotic reservoir.
World Leprosy Day was initiated in 1954 by French humanitarian Raoul Follereau. The timing near the end of January was chosen in recognition of Mahatma Gandhi’s humanitarian legacy and his work with people affected by leprosy.
The annual observance seeks to:
• Increase public understanding that leprosy is curable.
• Encourage early detection and treatment.
• Combat discrimination and social exclusion.
• Recognize the rights and contributions of people affected by leprosy.
For 2026, international campaigns continue to emphasize that while medical tools exist to cure leprosy, stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to elimination.
India’s decision to observe World Leprosy Day on 30 January is symbolic. Mahatma Gandhi actively challenged the fear surrounding leprosy and personally cared for people affected by the disease.
One well-documented example is Parchure Shastri, a Sanskrit scholar who developed leprosy. Gandhi brought him to Sevagram Ashram and personally tended to his wounds, demonstrating that compassionate touch posed no danger. The hut where Shastri lived, often referred to as Parchure Kuti, still stands at Sevagram as a reminder of this approach.
Gandhi’s actions paralleled those of other humanitarian figures, including Mother Teresa, who also emphasized dignity and direct care for marginalized patients.
Although leprosy prevalence has fallen dramatically over recent decades, it remains a public health concern in many countries. Globally, more than 200,000 new cases of leprosy are reported each year, and it occurs in more than 120 countries. (WHO)
In India, the prevalence rate has declined to 0.57 per 10,000 population in 2025, reflecting enhanced early detection and treatment coverage under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme.
The disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, and many individuals continue to experience discrimination in employment, education, and marriage, even after being cured.
Nearly 95 percent of people have natural immunity to Mycobacterium leprae, meaning most exposed individuals never develop the disease.
Leprosy cannot be spread through breastfeeding, coughing once, sharing utensils, or casual social contact.
Children account for a significant proportion of new leprosy cases globally, indicating ongoing transmission in communities.
A single dose of rifampicin given to close contacts can reduce their risk of developing leprosy, a strategy known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
The BCG vaccine, primarily used for tuberculosis, also provides partial protection against leprosy, especially in children.
World Leprosy Day highlights both scientific progress and unfinished social challenges. Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma, yet stigma continues to delay diagnosis and limit opportunities for those affected. The observance, particularly India’s commemoration on 30 January, underscores the importance of combining evidence-based medicine with compassion, inclusion, and respect for human dignity.
What causes leprosy (Hansen’s disease)?
Leprosy is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves and spreads through prolonged close contact with an untreated person.
Is leprosy contagious?
Leprosy is only mildly contagious and usually requires months of close contact for transmission. Casual interactions such as handshakes, sharing food, or sitting together do not spread the disease.
Is leprosy still a health concern today?
Yes. Despite progress, more than 200,000 new cases of leprosy are reported each year in more than 120 countries.
Is leprosy treatment free in India?
Yes. Under India’s National Leprosy Eradication Programme, multidrug therapy is provided free of cost through government health facilities.
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