The History of Leprosy

Leprosy is caused by a bacterium named mycobacterium lepre. It's not too distantly related to the bacterium that also causes tuberculosis. Leprosy, which is now in the US also called Hansen's disease because leprosy was associated with such stigma for so long. In the United States, it is now referred to as Hansen's disease, but worldwide it is still known and referred to by the WHO mostly as leprosy.