01416nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001900054653001700073653001800090653002300108653002300131653001200154653003800166100001300204700001300217700001100230700001500241700001000256700001200266700001200278245014900290520069700439022001401136       2024                            d  c01/202410aBlood donation10aBlood supply10aDonor testing10aHansen’s disease10ainfectious disease10aleprosy10aTransfusion-transmitted infection1 aJacobs J1 aAdkins B1 aBibb L1 aStephens L1 aWoo J1 aBloch E1 aBooth G00aNew threats from an old foe: Evaluating the risk to the blood supply due to increasing incidence and endemicity of leprosy in the United States.3 a<p>Leprosy (i.e., Hansen's disease) is a chronic disease secondary to infection with either Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis. While the incidence of this disease is decreasing across the world, there is mounting evidence that it might be increasing, and becoming endemic, in the United States. Leprosy was once considered a potential threat to the blood supply, and while this threat has not borne out, it is worth revisiting the available data to assess whether it may pose a threat in the future. Herein, we discuss the evidence for and against the potential for transfusion-transmission of leprosy, and highlight future areas of research to further elucidate this possibility.</p>
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