What Causes Leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic skin disease caused by bacteria known as “leprae”. Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s Disease, which is named after Dr. Hansen, the person who discovered the leprae bacteria in 1783 but tracing back to the medicinal journal, leprosy has been around since 600B.C. The external symptom of leprosy such as skin lesion is the most common symptom of leprosy. If leprosy is left untreated, it can be very progressive and can cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. However, contrary to urban myth, leprosy does not actually cause body parts to simply fall off.

The main cause of leprosy is when bacteria leprae enter your body through the nose or through the broken skin others who have leprosy. Once the leprae bacteria enters your body, it goes straight to your epidermis because of the high amount of blood, which contains oxygen and nutrients. The leprae bacteria will start breeding and infecting your skin causing leprosy. However, that is not the only cause of leprosy as an untreated syphilis disease could cause leprosy. When untreated, the syphilis virus will be mutated causing the same skin condition as leprosy.

The few symptoms of leprosy consists of redness, darker or lighter spot than skin that look very odd. That part of skin usually have no sensation and when you pinch or touch it, you will not feel anything as the leprae bacteria has killed the nerves beneath the skin. You will also suffer from chronically stuffy nose and many other skin lesions and nodules on the sides of your body.

With modern medical technology, diagnosis and treatment of leprosy is easy and most endemic countries are striving to fully integrate leprosy services into existing general health services. leprosy treatment has been made available by WHO free of charge to all patients worldwide since 1995, and provides a simple yet highly effective cure for all types of leprosy.
Information campaigns about leprosy in high risk areas are crucial so that patients and their families, who were historically ostracized from their communities, are encouraged to come forward and receive treatment. The most effective way of preventing disabilities in leprosy, as well as preventing further transmission of the disease, lies in early diagnosis and treatment with leprosy.
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Bihar priest named man of the year

Catholic News, India Dec. 23rd: - A national weekly has named a Catholic priest as its “man of the year,” in recognition of his efforts to restore the life of some 50,000 leprosy patients in Bihar. The Kerala-based “The Week” selected Father Christudas of Bettiah diocese for its 2009 recognition and ran the cover of its December last week edition with his photograph. The announcement “is a great way to celebrate the year for the priests,” Bishop Victor Henry Thakur of Bettiah told UCA News on Dec. 21, reacting to the news.

The 71-year-old priest’s Little Flower Centre is in Sunderpur village in Raxaul town on the India-Nepal border, an area known for large number of colonies for this socially segregated people. The priest began the center in 1981 with about 100 people suffering from leprosy. “He is a one-man army who gave 50,000 lepers and their families a fresh start in life. He gave them treatment, dignity and more importantly the will to live and smile again,” The Week’s cover story said.

The center spread over 8 hectares of land grows wheat and runs a poultry farm that meets 40 percent of its needs. The complex includes a school, hostel, hospital, work center and a village of 200 families — all cured patients. The Week article explains how the son of a liquor vender from Kerala’s Edamaruku village traveled to different places in India in his quest to become a missionary priest before settling in Raxaul. He first joined St. Paul’s Society to become a priest but returned after failing exams. He spent some time in Yercard, Tamil Nadu, with a Brother’s congregation and later joined the Bothers of Missionaries of Charity, before becoming a priest and incardinated in the diocese.

The integration of the leprosy patients and their families in mainstream society is “the sole purpose of my work,” says the priest, who once noticed a leprous patch on his angle but got it cured. The priest expressed people reading reports about his work would change their mindset about “our people.” Bishop Thakur said the recognition has gladdened him because the whole India would come to know about the priest’s “commitment, dedication to the healing ministry to the most disadvantaged.” The prelate also said that Father Christudas is locally known as “Baba” or a revered elder, but “the honor has made him known nationally and internally.”

“The Week” said Bihar’s northern region now has 22 leper colonies, 10 less than when Father Christudas began his center 28 year ago. “And only patients are the older generation,” it said. The priest wants his rehabilitation center to flourish, but is also looking forward to a time when the hospital will have no patients. “Then I will know that my life has been a worthy one,” he told the weekly.
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Leprosy in the Philippines

When the National Leprosy Control Program (NLCP) was established in 1986, there were 38,570 registered leprosy patients in the country. That number translated into a Prevalence Rate (PR) of 7.2 per 10,000 Filipinos.
By the end of 1998, with 7,005 registered patients and a PR of 0.90 per 10,000 population, leprosy was no longer considered as a public health problem by both the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2004, the number was further reduced to 3,149 registered cases and a PR of 0.38 per 10,000 population.
From January 1 to December 31, 2004, a total of 2,120 new cases of leprosy were diagnosed and all were put under treatment with MDT.
The NLCP is under the supervision of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) of the DOH headed by Dr. Yolanda Oliveros; and the Infectious Disease Office headed by Dr. Jaime Lagahid. Dr. Leda Hernandez is Chief of the Division that handles leprosy while Dr. Francesca Gajete is the National Program Manager. - DOH Philippines
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Temple-Era DNA Reveals Oldest Case of Leprosy

Israel National News: (IsraelNN.com) The DNA of a man buried near Jerusalem's Old City in the first century Common Era reveals the earliest identifiable case of leprosy, according to researchers from Israel and North America. The burial shroud may also disprove the claim that the Shroud of Turin is from first-century Jerusalem.
The burial cave in which the remains were found, which is known as the Tomb of the Shroud, is located in the lower Hinnom Valley and is part of a first-century C.E. cemetery. The shrouded man, whose bones were dated by radiocarbon methods to 1-50 C.E., did not receive the customary secondary burial in an ossuary (small stone container for bones) common at the time. The entrance to the part of the tomb where this individual was buried was completely sealed with plaster.
The Hebrew University's Prof. Mark Spigelman, one of the leading researchers who studied the molecular evidence from the tomb, believes the isolation was due to the fact that the shrouded man suffered from leprosy and died of tuberculosis. The DNA of both diseases was found in his bones.
The excavation also found a clump of the shrouded man's hair, which had been ritually cut prior to his burial. These are both unique discoveries, as explained by Hebrew University spokespeople, because organic remains are hardly ever preserved in the Jerusalem area owing to high humidity levels in the ground.The evidence revealed by the remains indicate that tuberculosis and leprosy may have crossed social boundaries in the first-century C.E. Jerusalem. A number of clues - the size of the tomb, its location alongside a High Priest, the type of textiles used as shroud wrappings, and the clean state of the man's hair - suggest that the shrouded individual was a fairly affluent member of society in Jerusalem or a priest himself. Furthermore, according to Prof. Shimon Gibson of Hebrew University, the tomb would have faced directly toward the Jewish Temple of the time.
by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
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Actor Terence Knapp will Present 'Life and Legacy of Father Damien'

Maui News: Dec. 9th: - In commemoration of the recent canonization of Father Damien De Veuster to sainthood, award-winning actor and scholar Terence Knapp will present "The Life and Legacy of Father Damien" at Kaimuki Public Library on Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m. The free program will be conducted in the Adult Reading Room.

Of all the parts the veteran actor has played, Knapp identifies most with Father Damien. His role in "Damien," a dramatic monologue by Aldyth Morris, has defined the actor ever since he first presented it at Kennedy Theatre in 1976. Knapp will share information and his insights about Father Damien of Molokai, who was acknowledged by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009 at the Vatican as Hawaii's first saint.

The one-hour program is suitable for all ages. Contact the library two weeks in advance if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed. Kaimuki Public Library is located at 1041 Koko Head Avenue, corner of Koko Head and Harding Avenues. For more information, please call the Library at 733-8422.
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Newly Named Saint Celebrated in Park

National Parks Gallery Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009: - Saturday, November 7th, marked the formal close of months of celebratory activities surrounding the sainthood of Joseph Damien de Veuster at the Vatican in Rome on October 11th. In stunning contrast to the regal setting of the holy city, filled with ancient architectural and artistic wonders, Kalaupapa’s November 7th celebration was nestled within a backdrop of Molokai’s unparalleled natural splendor and steeped in a profound sense of place, history and aloha, bringing this long-awaited commemoration full circle back to the place where it all began.

“Today is about the Kalaupapa patient residents, and about helping our kupuna [elders] and their invited guests honor Saint Damien’s legacy as a ‘Servant of God and Servant of Humanity,’” explained superintendent Steve Prokop. Arriving by charter plane and via the historic Kalaupapa Pali (cliff) Trail, visitors began their descent onto Moloka`i’s renowned north shore peninsula with the rising sun. This remote Kalaupapa Peninsula is the place where Damien’s work first began attracting world-wide attention to the plight of local islanders forced into exile after having contracting leprosy (Hansen’s disease).

Prior to an outdoor mass on the historic St. Philomena Church grounds, visitors enjoyed refreshments and interpretive displays on recent preservation work completed on St. Philomena Church. Bishop Larry Silva and clergy presided over the service, which included contributions from residents Pauline Chow and Gloria Marks, St. John’s Vianney Choir and prominent leaders of Kalaupapa’s other religious and secular organizations.

Na Wahine o Kalawao delivered a moving hula performance to the piece entitled “Saint Damien” while the winds stirred suddenly and the crowd was showered with a gentle “Hawaiian blessing”. Mass was followed by a good old fashioned lu`au feast, live music and educational exhibits on Saint Damien and resident life at Kalaupapa. Sharing words on this joyful commemoration, Kalaupapa resident Kay Costales recited, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.”
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PAPAL MASS WITH INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION

VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2009 (VIS) - Early this morning Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in the Pauline Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, with members of the International Theological Commission. In his homily the Pope described the figure of the true theologian, who does not succumb to the temptation of using the measure of his own intelligence to fathom the mystery of God. In the study of Holy Scripture over the last two hundred years, he said, "there have been great specialists and ... masters of the faith who have penetrated into the details ... of the history of salvation. But they were unable to see the mystery in itself, the central nucleus: that Christ truly was the Son of God". Yet the history of the Church, the Holy Father went on, contains a long list of men and women who were capable of humility and of reaching the truth. Among these he mentioned St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Damian de Veuster, "little people who were also wise", models from which to draw inspiration because "they were touched in the depths of their heart". "Following His Resurrection the Lord touched the heart of Saul on the road to Damascus", the Pope concluded, "Saul, who was one of the wise who could not see. ... He became blind and thus truly came to see. The great man becomes a small man and so sees the ... wisdom of God, ... which is greater than all human wisdom".
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New Coin Wows Hawaii

World Coin News Nov. 24th: It is unusual to see a coin show with lines at the door where coin collectors are in the minority. Yet over the course of three days from Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Hawaii State Numismatic Association’s annual convention, this was sometimes the norm, according to a report from The Coin & Currency Institute, Inc. To the surprise of many in attendance, the hubbub was caused by a silver 20-euro coin from Belgium with such a uniquely Hawaiian twist that it made headlines in newspaper, television, radio and online reports.

The coin was issued by Belgium to commemorate the canonization of Father Damien, now known as St. Damien of Molokai, by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 11. Although he was born in Belgium, St. Damien, also known as the “leper priest,” is as revered in Hawaii as in his native land. His work of caring for thousands of sick people at the Kalawao settlement on Molokai made him a Hawaiian legend. He died in 1889 of Hansen’s disease (leprosy) while giving this care.

The coin, which was to arrive in Honolulu in time for the show, was not delivered until Nov. 2 due to a delay in Customs processing. While that caused some disappointment, buyers were undeterred, according to the report. When Hawaii’s largest newspaper, the Honolulu Advertiser ran a headline saying “Coin Show, No Show,” in its Nov. 1 issue, it made the point that, “St. Damien’s foot is fleeter than international mail service” – a reference to the fact that this was “nearly three weeks after Bishop Larry Silva hand-delivered a relic of Damien’s heel back to Hawaii.”

The result of the story was that it “attracted even more folks,” said Vince Vento of Alii Coin & Currency, LLC, who is distributing the coin in Hawaii for the Royal Belgian Mint, By the close of the show Sunday, Vento had pages of reservations for the coins – so many that even after limiting buyers to just one coin per person, the initial shipment of several hundred was oversold and the Royal Belgian Mint was preparing a second shipment. Coin and paper money dealer Jim Simek said of the crowds that, “there were times where 20 to 30 people were lined up at Vento’s table,” and that it was “unlike anything I’ve seen at a coin show in a long time for a non-American coin.”

Todd Kuwaye, a local collector of Morgan dollars and U.S. gold coins, would have gone to the Honolulu show anyway but said that he went early, “just to get the coin.” He said it was “the first European coin I ever bought.” The coin is 37 mm in diameter and contains 22.85 grams of sterling silver. It is struck in mirror-finish proof quality. Mintage is limited to just 15,000 coins worldwide and 10 percent of the coins available for export have already been sold in Hawaii. Issue price is U.S. $75, or 49 euros. The Finance Ministry of Belgium is donating the net profits from the sale of the coin to the Damien Actie (Action), a non-governmental organization established in 1964 that is mainly concerned with people suffering from Hansen’s disease and tuberculosis.

For more information, contact North American distributor The Coin & Currency Institute, Inc. by mail at P.O. Box 1057, Clifton, NJ 07014; by phone at (800) 421-1866; by fax at (973) 471-1441; or by e-mail at mail@coin-currency.com. Shipping and handling is $5.50 per order. Coins are available in Hawaii from Alii Coin & Currency. The company can be reached by phone at (808) 236-2646. The Royal Belgian Mint may be contacted by e-mail at mrb.kmb@minfin.fed.be
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No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Mozlink’ for any or all of the articles/images placed here. The placing of an article does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
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