Basic Facts
What is leprosy’s modern name?
Hansen’s disease.
What causes leprosy?
A bacteria.
Is leprosy easy or hard to catch?
Hard to catch.
Who discovered the leprosy bacteria?
Dr. Hansen.
What is the biblical form of “leprosy” called?
Tzaraat.
Is leprosy curable today? (Yes/No)
Yes
What part of the body does leprosy damage most?
The nerves.
What feeling do people lose when nerves are damaged?
Pain / touch.
Which organization controls leprosy worldwide?
The WHO.
In which book of the Torah is tzaraat described?
Vayikra
What type of disease is leprosy: bacterial or viral?
Bacterial.
Name one early sign of leprosy.
Light skin patches.
What is the name of the treatment that cures leprosy?
MDT (Multi-Drug Therapy).
Why do people with leprosy sometimes lose parts of their fingers or toes?
Because nerve damage makes them lose feeling, so injuries get worse without being noticed.
What is the biggest difference between modern leprosy and biblical tzaraat?
Leprosy is a medical disease, but tzaraat is a spiritual sign connected to behavior (like lashon hara).
Does leprosy grow fast or very slow in the body?
Very slow.
Why can people injure their feet without noticing?
They lose feeling.
How long can MDT treatment last?
6–12 months.
Why can’t the leprosy bacteria grow easily in labs?
It needs living tissue and grows very slowly.
What sin is connected to tzaraat in the Torah?
Lashon Hara (bad speech).
What body system is damaged the most by leprosy?
The nervous system.
What happens when the bacteria destroys the myelin of nerves?
Feeling is lost / muscles weaken.
Why is early treatment important?
It stops nerve damage.
Which three countries have the most leprosy cases today?
India, Brazil, and Indonesia.
Who in the Torah got tzaraat for speaking badly?
Miriam.