Hansen's disease

Barr was by then known for her superior laboratory skills, having worked on the bacterium that causes Hansen’s disease, commonly called leprosy, as well as other projects.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is avoidable.

A cure for Hansen’s disease was found in the mid-20th century.

More than 8,000 people, mostly Native Hawaiians, perished at Kalaupapa, including Damien, who eventually contracted leprosy, later called Hansen’s disease.

Those days are over, thank goodness, but people diagnosed with Hansen’s disease still worry about how society will respond.