In Mexico, leprosy cases are primarily concentrated in four states: Sinaloa, Guanajuato, Guerrero, and Nayarit. According to Roberto Arenas Guzmán, an academic from UNAM, leprosy was a global problem in the 20th century, with millions of cases worldwide. Although the incidence has decreased, the disease has not completely disappeared. Each year, around 200 new cases are registered in Mexico, according to the Health Secretariat.
The Health Secretariat reported a decrease in the number of new leprosy cases over the past year, from 128 to 119, thanks to the National Leprosy Elimination Program. In 2023, Mexico closed with approximately 300 new leprosy cases detected. By August 2024, only 40 cases were reported, according to the Epidemiological Bulletin of the DGE.
Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, also known as Hansen's bacillus. Although it is believed that leprosy has been eradicated, it remains a public health problem in Mexico. Fortunately, it is a curable disease with available treatment that reduces the chances of severe disabilities.
Symptoms of leprosy include light or dark spots on the skin, nodules causing lesions, and loss of sensitivity in the affected area. Additionally, muscle weakness and tingling sensations in the hands and feet may occur. If not treated in time, leprosy can cause deformities, mutilations, reduced mobility, and in extreme cases, blindness.
Leprosy is mainly transmitted through close and prolonged contact with infected individuals who have not received adequate treatment. The bacterium responsible for leprosy reproduces slowly, and its incubation period can be up to 20 years. Symptoms may appear months or even decades after infection.
