Which bacterium did Gerhard Armauer Hansen discover in 1873?
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Mycobacterium leprae
It is a close relative of the tuberculosis pathogen.
💡 Did you know? It multiplies extremely slowly.
All questions with answers
What was Hansen's disease called in the past?
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Leprosy (the plague of outcasts)
The sick were called „lepers“ or outcasts.
💡 Did you know? They were cast out of society.
Which two areas of the body does leprosy mainly damage?
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Skin and nerves
The loss of feeling leads to injuries.
💡 Did you know? Over time this causes mutilations.
How easily does leprosy actually spread?
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Only slightly contagious
It usually takes close, years-long contact.
💡 Did you know? The great fear of the past was thus exaggerated.
Who discovered the leprosy pathogen in 1873?
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Armauer Hansen
The Norwegian doctor gave the disease its second name.
💡 Did you know? It is therefore also called „Hansen's disease“.
Is leprosy curable today?
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Yes
A combination of antibiotics cures it completely.
💡 Did you know? Since the 1980s millions have been cured.
Where were leprosy patients banished in the past?
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To leper colonies
They had to warn people with a rattle.
💡 Did you know? The exclusion shaped their whole lives.
In which countries does leprosy still occur mainly today?
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In poorer countries
Hundreds of thousands still fall ill each year.
💡 Did you know? The old stigma often lingers to this day.
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