Early signs include reddish or pale patches on the skin, painless ulcers on the feet, muscle weakness, and numbness. Delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications, including deformities, blindness, and chronic pain.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 200,000 new cases of leprosy are reported globally each year, with the majority in Brazil, India, and Indonesia.
While Malaysia has achieved leprosy elimination at the national level (fewer than one case per 10,000 people), the fight is not over: recent trends show a concerning rise in new cases in some parts of the country.
In fact, Malaysia recorded a 40% increase in leprosy cases in 2023, while cases – including one death – have been reported this year in Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan.
Sadly, misunderstanding and fear still surround this illness, often leading to unnecessary discrimination and isolation of those affected. Stigma makes people hide their symptoms, delay treatment, and feel alone.
This not only hurts them – it also makes it harder to stop the spread of the disease. Here are some myths and facts surrounding leprosy:
- Myth: Leprosy is highly contagious.
Fact: Leprosy spreads through prolonged, close contact via droplets from coughing or sneezing. Once treatment begins, patients quickly become non-infectious. - Myth: Leprosy is a curse or punishment for sin.
Fact: Leprosy is a bacterial infection that has nothing to do with curses or sin – a misconception likely influenced by mention of the disease in historical texts and holy books.
- Myth: Leprosy causes body parts to fall off.
Fact: This is entirely untrue. However, if untreated, leprosy can cause nerve damage, which may lead to injuries due to loss of sensation. These injuries, in turn, could become infected and cause complications. - Myth: Leprosy has no cure.
Fact: Multi-drug therapy – a combination of antibiotics typically with a six- to 12-month treatment course – is highly effective in treating leprosy. - Myth: People with leprosy should be isolated.
Fact: There is no need to isolate people with leprosy as, with early diagnosis and treatment, they can live normal lives without risk to others.
Hope for the future
The health ministry has launched the LaKAR programme (“latihan, kesan, analisa, rawat, rujuk”), aimed at training healthcare staff, improving early detection, and raising public awareness.
The government also uses single-dose rifampicin as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for close contacts of leprosy patients: a strategy proven effective in reducing transmission, especially in high-risk communities.
Ultimately, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, and a supportive, informed community can make all the difference. By dispelling myths and ending stigma, more people can be encouraged to seek help and prevent unnecessary suffering.
With continued vigilance, compassion, and public cooperation, Malaysia can move closer to eliminating leprosy once and for all.
For more information, visit the Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association website.
This article was written by final-year medical students of Group 8A Community Posting, supervised by Prof Dr Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.