Leprosy is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Leprosy, or a subtype of Leprosy, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Leprosy as a "rare disease". More information about Leprosy is available from Orphanet
108 annual cases notified in USA 1999 (MMWR 1999) ... see also overview of Leprosy.
approx 1 in 2,518,518 or 0.00% or 108 people in USA [Source statistic for calcuation: "108 annual cases notified in USA 1999 (MMWR 1999)" -- see also general information about data sources]
108 per year, 9 per month, 2 per week, 0 per day, 0 per hour, 0 per minute, 0 per second. [Source statistic for calculation: "108 annual cases notified in USA 1999 (MMWR 1999)" -- see also general information about data sources]
In 1999, the world incidence of Hansen’s disease was estimated to be 640,000; and in 2000, 738,284 cases were identified. In 2000, 91 cases occurred in the United States. In 2000, WHO listed 91 countries as endemic for leprosy, with India, Myanmar, and Nepal having 70% of cases. (Source: excerpt from Hansen's Disease (Leprosy): DBMD)
The following statistics relate to the incidence of Leprosy:
The following statistics relate to deaths and Leprosy:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the prevalence and/or incidence of Leprosy.
Contrary to popular belief, leprosy isn’t highly contagious; it actually has a low rate of infectivity. Continuous, close contact is needed to transmit it. In fact, 9 out of 10 persons have a natural immunity to it. Susceptibility appears highest during childhood and seems to decrease with age. Presumably, transmission occurs through nasal droplets containing M. leprae or by inoculation through skin breaks (with a contaminated hypodermic or tattoo needle, for example). The incubation period is unusually long — 2 to 40 years with an average of 5 to 7 years.
Leprosy is most prevalent in the underdeveloped areas of Asia (especially India and China), Africa, South America, and the islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. About 6 million people worldwide suffer from this disease; approximately 7,000 are in the United States, mostly in California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New York, and Hawaii.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
The term 'prevalence' of Leprosy usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Leprosy at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Leprosy refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Leprosy diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
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