When someone says leprosy, what’s is your gut reaction to the word?
For centuries, those with leprosy have been ostracized and vilified by societies all over the world. This reaction comes from the perception that leprosy is a highly contagious and permanent condition. Luckily, leprosy is relatively easy to treat in the West. Still, you might find it a little disconcerting if your child came home from school with a letter warning parents about a possible leprosy outbreak within the school district.
This week the Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside County just east of Los Angeles sent home a letter informing parents about a possible outbreak of the serious skin disease.
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“The school district has received an unconfirmed report that two students at Indian Hills Elementary School have been diagnosed with Hansen’s disease (leprosy),” read the letter. “In an abundance of caution, (the) administration wanted to share this information with you as soon as possible.”
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Luckily, if it’s caught early on, the disease can be treated with medication.
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While even the word leprosy can cause panic, about 95 percent of the human race is naturally immune to the disease, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
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(via The New York Post)
I would seriously be considering home school for my kids if I got a letter like that in the mail. Still, at least the district is being responsible and informing parents about what’s going on instead of trying to hide the facts.
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