a medical condition, also known as Hansen's Disease, which still affects millions of people;

caused by a bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae (a distant relative of the TB bacillus) and is probably spread by airborne droplet infection. The first outward sign of leprosy is loss of feeling in a patch on the skin;

Over 90% of people affected by leprosy live in developing countries where resources are scarce. Here leprosy risks becoming a forgotten problem amongst higher profile social problems

More than 14 million people have been treated with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) since 1981;

curable with Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT);

capable of causing disability and even blindness if untreated by attacking nerves under the skin, leading to loss of feeling, paralysis and unfelt injury of the hands, feet and face;

difficult to catch and cannot be caught by a handshake. Over 95% of people are immune and after only a couple of days on treatment, sufferers are no longer infectious;

still prevalent in many parts of the world and nearly every minute someone is diagnosed with leprosy;

still surrounded by myths, stigma and fear which mean that it is more than a medical condition;

without an effective preventative vaccine - which is why early detection and treatment with MDT are so vital;

still a public health problem in many countries. An estimated tens of millions of people around the world are affected by leprosy.