P. ANDREWS, PUBLIPHOTO DIFFUSION / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY P. ANDREWS, PUBLIPHOTO DIFFUSION / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Leprosy. Man suffering from leprosy climbing onto an adapted bicycle. Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that causes nerve damage, mainly to the limbs and face, and can cause skin damage. If left untreated, complications can lead to severe disfigurement and blindness. The responsible bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae, is spread in droplets of nasal mucus. Early treatment of the disease with antibacterial drugs halts the infection but cannot reverse any nerve damage that has already occurred. Photographed in Tanzania.
Model release available. Property release not required.