Hansen's Disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by the leprosy Mycobacterium leprae, and it is believed that the immune state of the infected person is also involved in the onset of the disease. However, the number of new cases in Japan has decreased significantly thanks to advances in medicine and public health.
Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of new patients in 2016 was about 210,000, and the eradication of Hansen's Disease is still a long way off. Therefore, active international cooperation from Japan, which has the power to advance research, is needed, and Hansen's Disease Research Center is proactively working on such activities.
Before Leprosy Prevention Law was abolished in 1996, medical treatment for Hansen's disease was provided at national and private Leprosy sanatorium, but now diagnosis and treatment are often carried out at general medical institutions. Hansen's Disease Hansen's Disease is a disease that can be cured without leaving any aftereffects if it is detected and treated early, and it is possible to prevent the onset of aftereffects such as peripheral neuropathy, so there is a need to improve basic medicine and clinical medicine for early detection and early treatment.
Therefore, we will be holding the "40th Summer university course on medical science of leprosy" (see attached "Schedule") for medical professionals and medical students to learn knowledge related to the diagnosis and treatment of Hansen's Disease.
We look forward to your participation in this course to further deepen your understanding of Hansen's Disease.