Why is leprosy called Hansen’s disease?

Leprosy is referred to as Hansen’s disease to honor Gerhard Armauer Hansen, a Norwegian physician, who discovered the leprosy bacterium in 1873. Mycobacterium leprae was the first bacillus to be associated with a human disease. In addition, as with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, there are considerable social stigmata associated with having leprosy. Therefore, rather than referring to patients as lepers and the disease as leprosy, it is often preferable to use the term Hansen’s disease.

Gelber RM: Hansen’s disease, West J Med 158:583–590, 1993.