A Riverside County school district is looking into two unconfirmed cases of leprosy at one of its schools.
On Sept. 1, Jurupa Unified School District officials sent a letter to parents that stated:
The school district has received an unconfirmed report that two students at Indian Hills Elementary School have been diagnosed with Hansen's disease (leprosy). This report has not been confirmed by the Health Department. In an abundance of caution, administration wanted to share this information with you as soon as possible.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, is a chronic bacterial disease that primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves and upper airway. Feared as a highly contagious and dangerous disease, it is well established that Hansen's disease is not highly transmissible, is very treatable, and, with early diagnosis and treatment, is not disabling."
District officials also provided the following informative links:
http://www.hrsa.gov/hansensdisease/
http://www.hrsa.gov/hansensdisease/pdfs/patientinformation.pdf
http://www.hrsa.gov/hansensdisease/pdfs/patientinformationspanish.pdf
