image: Armauer Hansen discovered the leprosy-bacteria in 1873 when doing his observations in the microscope. view more
Credit: University of Bergen
In 1873, a young doctor from Bergen, Norway, observed something in his microscope that later would turn out to be of great importance for the understanding and treatment of chronic diseases.
Driven by curiosity, the physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen discovered the leprosy bacillus, M.leprae, on February 28th 1873. The discovery represented a medical paradigm shift in that it was the first time a pathogen was identified as the cause for a chronic disease. It also represented an epidemiological breakthrough with consequences for preventive medicine and health legislation globally – eventually paving the way for effective treatment.
In many countries leprosy has been renamed "Hansen's disease", in honor of the discoverer and to help combat stigma. Many of the issues Hansen discussed are still relevant, such as the relationship between individual freedom and the collective need for protection against contagious disease.
Today, a vaccine against leprosy is being tested, and since 1995, WHO has been distributing MDT (multidrug therapy), initiated by the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, Yohei Sasakawa. MDT was first recommended by WHO study group on chemotherapy of leprosy for control programs in 1982. The medicine is free of charge and kills the bacteria in infected people.
We also know today that the disease is not very contagious. 95 percent of people are genetically immune, and the remaining 5 percent must, in addition to being exposed to the bacterium, have had a weakened immune system over time to develop the disease.
Throughout 2023, the University of Bergen will celebrate the anniversary with the official commemoration taking place on February 28th, including an international webcast. The commemorative events are conducted together with the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative.
The program on the 28th of February will include speeches and greetings by WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa, rector Margareth Hagen from UiB and many others.
Click here for more information and register for the international broadcast: https://hansen2023.org/webcast
Contact-details:
Magnus Vollset, Associate Professor, History of Medicine, University of Bergen
E-mail: magnus.vollset@uib.no