The March 2010 issue of Leprosy Review has as its theme the human rights of persons affected by leprosy and immigration.

Mr Douglas Soutar, General Secretary of ILEP, was asked to write an editorial on immigration and human rights in leprosy. Though leprosy does not pose a threat to public health, he noted that many countries still consider leprosy a notifiable disease and that they can bar entry to persons affected by leprosy. The UK is one of these countries. Recently the Leprosy Mission England and Wales identified a group of law students at the University of Cambridge, who will research UK legislation that may discriminate against persons affected by leprosy, the findings of which will identify all legislation, not just that related to immigration, which may need to be challenged. The Editor of Leprosy Review, Professor Diana Lockwood, wonders whether the hosting of the 2012 Olympics will spur the UK Department of Health to amend its legislation. Vigorous lobbying before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing resulted in the authorities deciding to allow in people affected by leprosy from 20^th July 2008. On 28^th April 2010 the Chinese State Council announced the passing of the relevant legislation. Leprosy will no longer figure on the list of notifiable diseases that have to be declared on passing through immigration in China.

In another article, Professor Cassandra White, from the Department of Anthropology of Georgia State University in Atlanta, has written about how the media and other stakeholders in the US have erroneously aroused fear about cases of leprosy in that country and linked leprosy with undocumented immigrants.

Lepr Rev, 2010; 81, 3-4: http://www.lepra.org.uk/ 

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