Leprosy's Unexpected Legacy in the Americas

Leprosy, one of the oldest known diseases, has unveiled a more intricate history than scientists ever imagined. New research has revealed that a strain of this debilitating disease was prevalent in the Americas long before European explorers set foot on the continent.

A groundbreaking study, published in the esteemed journal *Science*, involved a multidisciplinary team of international researchers who discovered DNA from *Mycobacterium lepromatosis*, a recently identified leprosy-causing bacterium, in ancient remains across North and South America. This surprising finding challenges the long-held belief that leprosy was brought to the New World by European settlers.

The Dark History of Leprosy