Hansen's Disease - Portfolio

Hansen's Disease (aka Leprosy): A Feared Infection

Leprosy – also known as Hansen’s disease (HD) – has challenged humanity for millennia. The disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, has affected diverse populations throughout recorded history and posed fundamental questions about its medical origins, treatment possibilities, and the effectiveness of isolation. Antibiotic combinations now render the bacteria non-contagious within 6 to 12 months, and permanently stop the progression of the disease.

While each culture has responded to this disease differently, a common thread is the irrational fear it engenders. Because HD is only minimally contagious, this fear is completely out of proportion to the true risk posed by the disease. The images here derive from a larger exhibition at the Public Health Museum in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Represented here are three US treatment facilities: Penikese Island Hospital in Massachusetts (1905-1921); the Hansen’s Disease Center in Carville, Louisiana (1894-1998); and the Kalaupapa Settlement on the Hawaiian island of Molokai (1865-present).

On March 24, 2006 (World Tuberculosis Day) there will be an associated seminar on "Disease and Stigma" (PDF - 2.6 MB) at the museum. To learn more about ongoing efforts to help integrate people with HD and reduce stigma, please visit the IDEA Web site.