One of the most dreaded diseases for millennia, leprosy is still with us — though it has lost much of its menace. But some of its mystery remains, particularly its origins. In a study out today, researchers turned to ancient DNA to discover leprosy’s roots, and the path they followed took them to a surprising place.
Leprosy results from a chronic bacterial infection, almost always of Mycobacterium leprae. It typically takes five years after initial infection for symptoms to show up.
The good news is, despite the long incubation period, leprosy is not highly contagious. The World Health Organization notes that 99 percent of the global population has natural immunity to it and, even if you’re in that unlucky one percent, it can be cured with a combination of fairly affordable drugs. At least, that’s true in the 21st century.
