For thousands of years, Leprosy (now properly called Hansen’s Disease) has been the ultimate symbol of isolation. We picture colonies on islands, bells warning of "the unclean," and the terrified belief that a single brush of skin could doom you.

That fear is one of history's longest-standing lies.

The truth is that you cannot catch leprosy by shaking hands, hugging, or sitting next to someone on a bus. The bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae, is wimpy, slow-growing, and incredibly hard to transmit.

Here is why the stigma is far more dangerous than the disease.

1. The "95% Rule" (You Are Probably Immune)