World Leprosy Day, which is observed annually on the last Sunday of January, will take place on 25 January this year. This international day provides an opportunity to honor people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination. The theme for World Leprosy Day 2026, “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma”, highlights the urgent need to address the social barriers that persist despite the availability of effective treatment.

Although leprosy is fully curable when diagnosed early, stigma continues to profoundly affect the lives of those impacted. Misconceptions surrounding the disease led to job loss, social exclusion, disrupted education, and family separation. Fear of discrimination often causes individuals to hide symptoms and delay seeking care, resulting in preventable complications and ongoing transmission. Addressing stigma is therefore essential not only for social justice, but also for effective disease control.

In support of World Leprosy Day 2026, MDPI journals aim to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and research on the medical, social, and public health dimensions of leprosy. Through Special Issues, research articles, and webinars, MDPI provides platforms to explore stigma, intersectionality, and inclusive approaches to care.

“Tissue Expression of NGF in Skin Lesions of HIV-Coinfected and Non-Coinfected Leprosy Patients and Its Relationship with Leprosy Neural Damage”
by Marília Brasil Xavier, Lucas dos Santos Fontes, Mariana Garcia Borges do Nascimento, Simone Rodrigues dos Passos, Débora Pinheiro Xavier, Larissa dos Santos Alcantara, Elza Baía de Brito, Cláudia Maria de Castro Gomes and Carlos Eduardo Pereira Corbett
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2271; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102271

“Hansen’s Disease in Ecuador: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Research Priorities: A Literature Review”
by Manuel Calvopiña, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, Esteban Ortiz-Prado, Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez, Lorena Vaca and Elías Guamán
Pathogens 2025, 14(8), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14080832

“Vasculonecrotic Reaction Caused by Mycobacterium Lepromatosis Infection—A Case Report of an HIV/Leprosy-Coinfected Patient”
By Fernando Amador-Lara, Jorge L. Mayorga-Garibaldi, Felipe J. Bustos-Rodríguez, Luz A. González-Hernández, Pedro Martínez-Ayala and Jaime F. Andrade-Villanueva
Infect. Dis. Rep. 2025, 17(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17030058

“Spatial, Social and Serological Factors in the Prevalence and Risk of Leprosy in Areas of High Endemicity: An Integrative Review”
by Daniele dos Santos Lages, Isabela Cristina Lana Maciel, Sarah Lamas Vidal and Francisco Carlos Félix Lana
Infect. Dis. Rep. 2025, 17(3), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17030057  

“Correlation and Trends in Primary Health Care and Family Health Strategy Coverage of Leprosy Detection in Minas Gerais”
by Daniele dos Santos Lages, Isabela Cristina Lana Maciel, Sarah Lamas Vidal and Francisco Carlos Félix Lana
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040490

“Integrating Community Engagement in Zero Leprosy Efforts: A Pathway to Sustainable Early Detection, Control and Elimination”
by Anil Fastenau, Matthew Willis, Constanze Vettel, Sophie C. W. Stuetzle, Srilekha Penna, Priyanka Chahal, Fabian Schlumberger, Mowmita Basak Mow, Ngozi Ekeke, Joseph Ngozi Chukwu et al.
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(12), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120296

“Genomic and Phenotypic Variations Among Thai-53 and Mycobacterium leprae Clinical Isolates: Implications for Leprosy Pathogenesis and Research”
by Tiago Araujo Gomes, Tatiana Pereira da Silva, Edson Machad, Sidra Ezidio Gonçalves Vasconcelos, Bruno Siqueira Mietto, Daniela Ferreira de Faria Bertoluci, Patricia Sammarco Rosa, Roberta Olmo Pinheiro, Philip Noel Suffys, Letícia Miranda Santos Lery et al.
Pathogens 2024, 13(11), 986; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13110986

“Ecuador Towards Zero Leprosy: A Twenty-Three-Year Retrospective Epidemiologic and Spatiotemporal Analysis of Leprosy in Ecuador”
by Santiago Hernandez-Bojorge, Tatiana Gardellini, Jeegan Parikh, Neil Rupani, Benjamin Jacob, Ismael Hoare, Manuel Calvopiña and Ricardo Izurieta
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(10), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9100246

“Community-Based Intervention for Active Detection and Provision of Single-Dose Rifampicin Post-Exposure Prophylaxis to Household Contacts of Leprosy in Bolivia”
by Abundio Baptista Mora, Nimer Ortuño-Gutiérrez, Deisy Zurita Paniagua, Carlos Hurtado Solares, Anil Fastenau and Christa Kasang
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(5), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9050101  

“Self-Care Ability and Life Quality of Cured Leprosy Patients: The Mediating Effects of Social Support”
by Li Xu, Guangjie Jin, Xiang Li, Yuting Shao, Yunhui Li and Lianhua Zhang
Healthcare 2023, 11(23), 3059; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11233059