Doomed to live in a remote village and never see their families, the last seven survivors of the Luduo leper colony... two of whom have been there all their lives

Many of the 80 residents died without ever seeing their relatives again

Lepers ostracised over fears they were cursed and highly contagious

But it is difficult to contract and 95% of people are immune to disease



Disfigured, but defiant, these are the last surviving members of a Chinese leper colony who were banished from society because many believed they were cursed.



In Luduo, one of nearly 200 leprosy villages in Yunnan province, close to 80 sufferers were quarantined when it was first established.

But the majority have since died in the camp without ever seeing their relatives again, even after they were cured, because of the stigma attached to the condition.

Now just seven remain.

Scroll down for video



Together to the end: The last surviving members of the Luduo leper colony in Yunnan province, China, proudly pose for a picture after being banished to the remote camp because of their illness Banished: Luduo resident Zhao Jin Feng stands outside the old village hospital. Close to 80 people affected by Hansen's disease were quarantine in the village when it was first established Desperate plight: He Feng Xing, aged 73, smokes a cigarette at the abandoned village hospital. Mr He last saw his family when he was quarantined by his father in 1953 at the age of 13

Five of them were sent to Luduo when they developed the disease later in life, while the other two were born there after their mothers were quarantined while pregnant.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, which damages the skin and the peripheral nervous system.

A common myth is that body parts can fall off, but it can cause limbs to become numb or diseased from secondary infections.

Leper colonies became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, because people feared that the disfiguring disease was highly contagious.

Zhao Jin Feng, aged 76, walks with the aide of a cane through the doorway of the abandoned village hospital in Luduo. His mother was quarantined by her husband while she was pregnant Disabling: He Feng Xing removes his shoe, while Zhao Jin Feng shows the effects of the disease on her feet