2 possible leprosy cases at Riverside County elementary school

Two possible cases of Hansen's disease, otherwise known as leprosy, are under investigation in the Jurupa Unified School District, according to Riverside County Public Health Department. 

A notice went out to parents on Sept. 2 said that there was an unconfirmed report that two students at Indian Hills Elementary had been diagnosed with leprosy.

Jurupa Superintendent Elliott Duchon said that the district sent the letter to prevent rumors from gaining steam.

Now the Riverside County Public Health Department is working to investigate and confirm whether the diagnoses are accurate. In the meantime, Barbara Cole, Riverside's director for disease control, said it is safe for students to attend school. 

“Leprosy is not easily transmitted to others, so we don’t feel there’s a risk in the school setting in terms of transmission to others," Cole told KPCC. “It’s treatable with antibiotics, and most people —if they are diagnosed early and put on appropriate antibiotics — do well.” 

Cole said that transmission of leprosy only occurs in very close-quarter settings, like a household. Superintendent Duchon said that in an abundance of caution, classroom spaces involved were disinfected event though it was probably not necessary. 

It may sound odd to hear that leprosy could again be a public health concern, but there are still many countries where the disease is widespread, including India, Brazil, Nepal and Madagascar, among others, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Center for Disease Control website says that 95 percent of all adults are naturally immune to the disease, even if they are exposed.  For those who aren't, the World Health organization provides a free multidrug therapy that has proven highly effective.