<P> Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long - term infection by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis . Initially, infections are without symptoms and typically remain this way for 5 to 20 years . Symptoms that develop include granulomas of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes . This may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, thus loss of parts of extremities due to repeated injuries or infection due to unnoticed wounds . Weakness and poor eyesight may also be present . </P> <P> Leprosy is spread between people . This is thought to occur through a cough or contact with fluid from the nose of an infected person . Leprosy occurs more commonly among those living in poverty . Contrary to popular belief, it is not highly contagious . The two main types of disease are based on the number of bacteria present: paucibacillary and multibacillary . The two types are differentiated by the number of poorly pigmented, numb skin patches present, with paucibacillary having five or fewer and multibacillary having more than five . The diagnosis is confirmed by finding acid - fast bacilli in a biopsy of the skin or by detecting the DNA using polymerase chain reaction . </P> <P> Leprosy is curable with a treatment known as multidrug therapy . Treatment for paucibacillary leprosy is with the medications dapsone and rifampicin for six months . Treatment for multibacillary leprosy consists of rifampicin, dapsone, and clofazimine for 12 months . A number of other antibiotics may also be used . These treatments are provided free of charge by the World Health Organization . Globally in 2012, the number of chronic cases of leprosy was 189,000, down from some 5.2 million in the 1980s . The number of new cases was 230,000 . Most new cases occur in 16 countries, with India accounting for more than half . In the past 20 years, 16 million people worldwide have been cured of leprosy . About 200 cases are reported per year in the United States . </P> <P> Leprosy has affected humanity for thousands of years . The disease takes its name from the Latin word lepra, while the term "Hansen's disease" is named after the physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen . Separating people by placing them in leper colonies still occurs in places such as India, China, and Africa . However, most colonies have closed, since leprosy is not very contagious . Social stigma has been associated with leprosy for much of history, which continues to be a barrier to self - reporting and early treatment . Some consider the word "leper" offensive, preferring the phrase "person affected with leprosy". It is classified as a neglected tropical disease . World Leprosy Day was started in 1954 to draw awareness to those affected by leprosy . </P>

When was the last reported case of leprosy
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