About leprosy
Leprosy is an infection of the skin and nerves caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It is rare in Australia and can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease.
Disease type:
Other notifiable
Vaccination available under NIP:
No
Notifiable disease:
Yes
Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
For information about prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, see healthdirect's leprosy page.
Surveillance and reporting
Leprosy is a nationally notifiable disease.
We monitor cases through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
For more on leprosy in Australia, you can search Communicable Diseases Intelligence.
Date last updated: