The head of the National Leprosy Program of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Raíza Rumbaut Castillo, alerted the Cuban population this Tuesday about the early signs of Hansen's disease and emphasized the importance of consulting a doctor at the first symptoms, in an interview broadcast by Canal Caribe on the program Buenos Días.
The specialist, who holds a master's degree in Infectious Diseases, confirmed that cases of leprosy are diagnosed in Cuba every year, although it is a rare disease. "Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease. It is an infectious, transmissible disease that affects the skin and the peripheral nervous system. Cases are diagnosed in Cuba every year. That is why the population needs to be informed about the disease," she stated.
Among the warning signs that should prompt a medical consultation, Dr. Rumbaut Castillo mentioned three: light or reddish skin spots with decreased or lost sensitivity, numbness or tingling, and reduced muscle strength in the hands and feet.
The impact on the peripheral nervous system is precisely what can lead to disabilities when the disease is not detected in time. "It is important to detect it early because of the effects it has on the peripheral nervous system, which is what can cause the disabilities that people fear so much," he explained.
Regarding transmission, the specialist debunked one of the most widespread myths: leprosy is not easily contagious. "In reality, contrary to what the public thinks, leprosy is not such a contagious disease. It requires close, prolonged, household contact for the transmission of the disease. It is not transmitted by kissing, hugging, touching a person, or riding in a tricycle," she specified.
Regarding the treatment, the doctor assured that leprosy is curable. The medications —a combination of rifampicin, dapsone, and clofazimine— are donated annually by the World Health Organization and are administered for free and under supervision through the family doctor and nurse. From the first doses, the disease ceases to be transmissible.
When a case is diagnosed in a family, the health team in the area examines all contacts of the patient to identify any possible symptoms. The specialist urged everyone to remain calm and support the ill family member: "What we need to do is stay calm and support that family member who is sick, and above all, not to blame them."
Several Cubans expressed surprise on Facebook at the mention of leprosy as an active disease in the country, in an epidemiological context already burdened with simultaneous outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and hepatitis A. "Is there leprosy too?" wrote one user. Another commented: "Oh my God! Another line for the zebra." A Cuban woman who claims to have suffered from the disease shared her testimony: "Thank you very much, I know what leprosy is because I had it."
Others recalled that leprosy has been present on the Island for decades. Cuba registered active cases in Las Tunas in March 2025, including children, and in 2018 a health alert was issued in Villa Clara due to an outbreak. The country eliminated the disease as a public health problem in 1993, but has never stopped reporting new cases: 123 in 2023, of which 95.9% were multibacillary.
Dr. Rumbaut Castillo concluded her remarks with a call to treat patients with dignity: "A person suffering from leprosy can be the love of someone’s life. Therefore, they should be treated with all the respect they deserve, keeping in mind the three truths about leprosy: that it is curable, that it ceases to be transmissible from the first doses, and that the patient should not be discriminated against, but rather supported."
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