A student at a primary school in southern California has been diagnosed with leprosy, it emerged today.
Medical officials in Riverside County, California, said that two children had initially been diagnosed with the disease. However, further analyses revealed that only one of them tested positive for Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy.
Local authorities have confirmed that the school in question has been sanitised, and that there is no risk for the general population.
Contrary to popular belief, leprosy is not highly contagious, and in fact it is quite easy to treat with antibiotics.
Leprosy is still common in disadvantaged countries, where fear and ignorance of the disease leads to people being shunned and isolated.
If left untreated, the disease progresses to cause severe nerve damage and deformity.