Hansen's Disease or Leprosy is now considered "extinct" on the Maltese
Islands with no cases being reported in the Maltese native population.
While the infection is no longer considered endemic, vigilance is still
required in the light of the present problem of irregular immigration
from the African coast from regions where the disease is still
prevalent. The road towards eridicating the infection from the Maltese
community has been a long and often painful one. This work presents
archival information about the historical development of the disease in
the Maltese community, hopefully serving as an easily accessible source
for researchers in the medical and social history relating to the
disease within the Maltese commuinity.