Leprosy is regarded in Europe as eradicated. Globally, however, the pathogen is defeated by no means. Much of its spread is still unknown. However, leprosy is also to be avoided. The experts from Würzburg to say at least.
With her Disappearance from Europe, the infectious disease leprosy has ceased in the minds of many in the West to be a threat. In poor regions of the pathogen lives on, however. And with him the Stigma and Isolation that were already connected in the middle ages with the diagnosis. An impression of how the disease from the Affected Excluded made, conveyed to the city of Münster. In Germany’s only leprosy Museum Museum guide Petra shows Jahnke and the exhibits gathered, with those of the small club wants to keep the disease in consciousness.
Since such medical preparations are: a claw deformed Hand. A foot, of wounds eaten. The pathogen is affection of the nerves, and kill you, explained the biology teacher. “Infections will not be noticed because of numbness and ignite more and more.” Contrary to popular prejudices leprosy were typical of disabilities, such as crippled limbs, not a Symptom, but a late consequence of untreated inflammation.
From God for immoral behavior punished
Among the exhibits are life-sized models of two leper, dressed in her forced gap: A long robe, veiled, her scarred body. White Tie hands and feet to protect them from contact. With a wooden rattle, the Healthy should be warned to change the side of the road. Not the fear of Anstreckung discomfited at the time, the people, the fearsome sight triggered a fear: “in the absence of medical explanations, it was assumed that they had been punished by God for immoral behaviour,” says the Museum guide.
“Back then, you knew not how to help himself differently, than accommodate them in Camps,” explains Jahnke. More than 1000 of such Leprosen-houses there were on the present territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. So discriminatory, exile, and stigmatisation of tracks from today’s point of view, so the only alternative, the separation was at the time. After all, she says, had been supplied to the people, thanks to generous donations and our own pastoral care is good. “The Camps were, if you will, the first social institutions.”
Probably because of better living conditions slowly began to leprosy in the 17th century. Century in Europe. With the discovery of the pathogen, it was learned in 1873, the enemy, and later, thanks to antibiotics, is also effective to know the antidote. Nevertheless, more than 200 000 people a year are diagnosed in the world still. To be large ignorance and lack of prevention of the reasons, experts suggest.
“Today, leprosy patients are encounter just yet”
“Leprosy could easily defeat, if we knew more about it. It is a preventable disease,” says Jürgen Hövekenmeier, spokesman for the German leprosy and tuberculosis relief (DAHW), Würzburg. So too little is known about the routes of Transmission. There is no vaccine or quick tests. Leprosy has a long incubation period, a majority of the world’s population was resistant. “Why this is so, is not scientifically settled at all. Probably a lot of people carry the pathogen, to develop without ever, but can infect others.”
However, the pharmaceutical industry, lacking to invest the interest in the research, criticized the DAHW. Because: leprosy is a disease of the poor – only where the immune systems of the people are weakened, the bacteria have a Chance. The majority of new cases are found in countries with poorly developed medical infrastructure, according to the RKI. India, Brazil and Indonesia are among them.
Disgust and fear of contamination, make lepers from all the wear late consequences. Four million people suffered, though long since healed, of disabilities due to leprosy, estimates by the DAHW. “You have no Chance to work. Nobody wants to live with you, because you are still sick and contagious,” says Hövekenmeier. “In the middle ages they were expelled, but the Christian society took over the work Camps and donations responsibility. Today, leprosy patients are encounter just yet.”