Brei Holm is a tiny tidal islet in the western Shetland Islands. It is due east of

Papa Stour Papa Stour ( sco, Papa Stour) is one of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, with a population of under fifteen people, some of whom immigrated after an appeal for residents in the 1970s. Located to the west of mainland Shetland and with an area ...

, to which it is connected at low tide, just outside Housa Voe. It is about a mile off Mainland, Shetland, and not far from the

Maiden Stack The Maiden Stack or Frau Stack is a tiny stack in the western Shetland Islands to the north of Brei Holm and east of Housa Voe in Papa Stour Papa Stour ( sco, Papa Stour) is one of the Shetland Islands in Scotland, with a population of under ...

. It was a leper colony until the 18th century, but it has been suggested that many of the "lepers" there were suffering from a

vitamin deficiency Vitamin deficiency is the condition of a long-term lack of a vitamin. When caused by not enough vitamin intake it is classified as a ''primary deficiency'', whereas when due to an underlying disorder such as malabsorption it is called a ''seconda ...

and not from

leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...

at all.

References

Uninhabited islands of Shetland Tidal islands of Scotland Leper colonies Former populated places in Scotland {{Shetland-geo-stub