Life-threatening mycobacteria infection

Most mycobacteria cause localized and often harmless infections of the skin. Leprosy, which dates back to approximately 60 bc in India,1 was supposed to be eliminated as a public health problem by the year 2000.2 With a new case detection rate between 600,000 and 700,000 yearly however,3 leprosy, with its sometimes devastating consequences, will be with us for many years to come. Buruli ulcer, named after the area in Uganda where prevalence was high, has spread to new areas, especially in Africa.4