Using novel molecular approaches to understand the transmission dynamics of Mycobacterium leprae in the Comoros. University of Antwerp
Leprosy is a serious mutilating disease and although Mycobacterium leprae was the first human pathogen discovered, the precise way of spreading between humans remains a mystery. This is part of the reason why leprosy control fails despite the availability of effective treatments. Over 200,000 new leprosy patients are diagnosed worldwide each year, and the high proportion in children indicates its ongoing spread. To stop transmission chains once ...