4. Contact with Someone Infected
Carriers aren’t the only way in which you can pick up leprosy: The likelihood of contracting leprosy is greatly increased if you come into contact with someone who has an active infection right now. This will usually mean someone who is already showing the worst symptoms of active infection – which can include lesions, swelling, inflammation and a severely compromised system.
An active leprosy infection is often contagious: If you come into contact with any fluid droplets or infected medical material that comes from someone who has leprosy, it’s likely that you might get it yourself – and because it can take years for someone to show active symptoms of having contracted leprosy, it might mean you should have yourself tested immediately in the case of having been through high-risk areas.
Travel to places designated as high-risk by health authorities means that you should take more precautions while you are there, and get tested for any conditions that go with this high-risk area upon your return.