01301nas a2200217 4500000000100000008004100001653001100042653002500053653001200078653001000090100001200100700001100112700001100123700001600134700001300150245010300163856006000266300001200326490000600338520073900344 2017 d10aPunjab10aPost-elimination era10aleprosy10aIndia1 aKalsy J1 aKaur T1 aKaur J1 aMalhotra SK1 aKalra RK00aLeprosy in Northern India during post elimination era (2005- 2015): A retrospective data analysis. uhttps://wwjournals.com/index.php/ijar/article/view/8326 a201-2040 v73 a
Leprosy is the oldest infection known to mankind caused by Mycobacterium lepraemanifesting as development of specific granulomatous or neurotrophic lesions in the skin, mucous membrane, eyes, nerves, bones and viscera. Leprosy has been a feared illness since antiquity, due to the havoc it wreaks upon the body. If left untreated, it has a potential to cause significant disability in a small proportion of cases along with social stigma and economic loss.
The prevalence of leprosy in world was about 0.33 at the end of the first quarter of 2013. Although, India attained the goal of leprosy elimination in December 2005; it still contributed 48.54% of total leprosy cases detected worldwide in the year 2012-2013.