By Admin. Updated 11:48 a.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The last time St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) detected a case of leprosy (Hansen’s disease) was in 2019.
According to a January 16 press release from the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment, St Vincent and the Grenadines has not seen any new cases of leprosy for the period 2022 – January 15th 2024.
For the last five (5) years, the leprosy cases were as follows; 2018 – No case of leprosy was recorded. In 2019, one case of leprosy was detected and successfully managed. The person is living a normal life, the health ministry said.
No case of leprosy was recorded for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and none so far for 2024.
The ministry’s press release comes after reports of eleven (11) leprosy cases recorded in St. Lucia and one case reported in Barbados.
In its press release, the health ministry said: “While Leprosy was once feared to be a highly contagious and devastating disease, the Ministry would like to reassure the public that leprosy does not spread easily and treatment is very effective. However, if left untreated, the nerve damage associated with leprosy can result in deformities of hands and feet, paralysis, and blindness”.
The Ministry of Health said it will continue to closely monitor the situation in our neighboring islands while increasing surveillance for leprosy throughout SVG.
The Ministry said it takes this time to encourage Vincentians to continue to take all the usual precautionary measures against respiratory infections such as covering mouths and nostrils when coughing and washing hands frequently.
About leprosy, according to the ministry’s press release:
Hansen’s disease (also known as leprosy) is an infection caused by a slow-growing bacteria. The leprosy bacteria can be spread when a person with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) coughs or sneezes, and someone else breathes in the droplets containing the bacteria repeatedly (over a prolonged period of time).
Leprosy can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose (nasal mucosa). With early diagnosis and treatment, the disease can be cured. It’s important to note that people with Leprosy disease can continue to work and live an active life during and after treatment.
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