GENEVA, January 24, 2024 — Despite being fully curable, leprosy continues to impact over 172,000 people globally, highlighting that the biggest hurdle in eliminating the ancient disease isn’t medical—it’s the enduring stigma surrounding it.
A Centuries-Old Disease Still Haunts Millions
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World Leprosy Day, observed on January 25th, underscores the urgent need for continued access to treatment and a fight against the social isolation faced by those affected.
- Leprosy, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affects the skin and nerves.
- Multidrug therapy (MDT) offers a complete cure, preventing disabilities and enabling a normal life.
- In 2024, 55 countries reported zero new cases, but 172,717 new cases were detected worldwide.
- A 25-year partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO) and Novartis is crucial in providing free treatment.
- The theme for this year is “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma.”
Leprosy, one of the oldest known infectious diseases, isn’t a death sentence. In fact, it’s entirely curable with multidrug therapy (MDT). Yet, the disease—which primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves—continues to cause progressive disabilities and, more insidiously, deep-seated stigma and social isolation if left untreated. The lingering fear and misunderstanding surrounding leprosy often proves more debilitating than the illness itself.
Progress and Persistent Challenges
Global efforts to eliminate leprosy are showing promise. Of the 188 countries, areas, or territories that submitted data in 2024, an encouraging 55 reported zero new cases. However, the WHO reported 172,717 newly detected cases worldwide in the same year, a stark reminder that the fight is far from over. Sustaining this momentum requires a multifaceted approach, including political commitment, community engagement, and continued collaboration.
For over two decades, a strong partnership between the WHO and pharmaceutical company Novartis has been instrumental in providing free MDT and clofazimine to patients globally. This collaboration, initiated in 2000, is one of the longest-running pharmaceutical donation programs in global health. The partnership has now been extended through 2030, ensuring continued access to MDT and funding for single-dose rifampicin (SDR) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
“The unwavering commitment of partners like Novartis over the past quarter-century has been foundational to the progress made against leprosy,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care. “Their steadfast support in ensuring free access to treatment has helped transform millions of lives and moved us closer to a world free from this ancient disease.”
Beyond Treatment: Addressing the Root of the Problem
While medical advancements are vital, the social stigma associated with leprosy remains a significant barrier to elimination. Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, emphasized this point, stating, “One of the most stubborn challenges that I encounter on my travels is the social stigma attached to leprosy, which can be more problematic than the disease itself, and which can persist beyond the end of treatment.” He highlighted the discrimination faced by those with residual disabilities, including divorce, lost opportunities, and social exclusion, even after being cured.
Clofazimine plays a crucial role in treating lepra reactions—sudden, severe inflammatory episodes that can lead to disabilities if left unchecked. The WHO’s Global Leprosy Strategy 2021–2030 focuses on interrupting transmission and eliminating the disease, prioritizing contact screening, preventive chemotherapy, and combating stigma and discrimination.
“Leprosy is one of the oldest infectious diseases known to humanity and combatting it has been part of our company’s history since discovering the first effective cure,” said Dr. Lutz Hegemann, President of Global Health at Novartis. “Over the last 25 years, we have reached millions of patients together with WHO, and we are committed to going further to pursue our vision of a world free of leprosy.”
This work also contributes to the broader effort to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Individuals can learn more and join the campaign on World NTD Day, January 30, 2026.
The NTD Roadmap 2021-2030 aims at elimination of leprosy (interruption of transmission). Beyond working to ensure that every person affected by leprosy is detected early and treated promptly, WHO leads efforts to combat the discrimination that persons affected by leprosy too often face.
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