Leprosy in the US: When Stigma is Worse than the Disease
For much of the 20th century, Americans diagnosed with leprosy were taken from their homes and confined at a leprosy hospital in Carville, LA., often for the rest of their lives. This was done, despite the fact that leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is one of the least contagious diseases. What happened at Carville, and why, raises important questions about individual rights, public health and the power of ignorance and shame. This conversation, moderated by Rutgers School of Public Health dean, Perry N. Halkitis, will also explore how stigmatization of diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, the Flu of 1918, etc., contribute to the proliferation of pandemics.