New threats from an old foe: evaluating the risk to the blood supply due to increasing incidence and endemicity of leprosy in the United States

Leprosy (i.e., Hansen ’s disease) is a chronic disease secondary to infection with either Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis. While the incidence of this disease is decreasing across the world, there is mounting evidence that it might be increasing, and becoming endemic, in the United States. Leprosy was once cons idered a potential threat to the blood supply, and while this threat has not borne out, it is worth revisiting the available data to assess whether it may pose a threat in the future.
Source: Transfusion and Apheresis Science - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research