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Leprosy is an infectious disease affecting
primarily the skin and the nervous system. Most people have a natural immunity to
the disease, but usually only prolonged exposure to the causal bacteria may result
in active infection. The disease has a long incubation period, which means that
the person may be infected long before any symptoms appear. This period may be as
long as 3-5 years.
Leprosy is more common in the developing countries, and even if detected, most cases
go untreated. According to WHO figures, there are about 6 cases of leprosy for every
10,000 Indians. At present, there are over five lakh registered cases of leprosy,
mainly from the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
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