Jordan Becomes First Country to Eliminate Leprosy, Verified by WHO

Tags: International News

Jordan became the first country verified by WHO to eliminate leprosy on 19 September 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Jordan has not reported any locally transmitted cases of leprosy for over two decades.

• An independent review team, commissioned by WHO, verified the elimination after an extensive assessment.

• Despite the elimination of leprosy, Jordan will maintain robust surveillance systems to manage future potential cases, including foreign-borne infections.

• Leprosy, a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, remains a global issue, with more than 200,000 new cases reported annually across 120 countries.

About Leprosy

• Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae.

• It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract mucosa, and eyes.

• Leprosy is curable, and early treatment can prevent long-term disabilities.

• Patients often face stigmatization and discrimination due to physical deformities.

• Transmission:

  • The disease spreads through droplets from the nose and mouth, requiring prolonged, close contact with an untreated person.

  • It does not spread through casual contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, or sharing meals.

  • Once treatment begins, the patient is no longer contagious.

• Treatment:
  

  • Leprosy is treated with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), which combines three drugs: dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine.

  • For PB cases, treatment lasts 6 months, while for MB cases, it lasts 12 months.

  • MDT is provided free of charge by WHO and helps cure the disease by killing the bacteria.

About the World Health Organization (WHO)

• Founded: 7 April 1948

• Founding Countries: United States, Brazil, Mexico, France, Türkiye, and others.

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

• Current Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus