Tailored guidelines and reduced stigma needed to tackle leprosy, Irish case study reveals

A case report published in Eurosurveillance on an adult with an imported case of leprosy in Ireland shows that there are notable challenges in tackling the disease in settings where it is rare. The affected individual was one of five individuals with leprosy reported in Ireland in the past decade. The authors report challenges faced in the public health response due to a delayed recognition of the symptoms by healthcare providers, a lack of specific Irish and European guidelines, and contact tracing in a congregate setting. Ahead of World Leprosy Day, this case study highlights the need for public health guidelines tailored to countries where the disease is very rare as well as strategies to reduce stigma related to the disease. Leprosy is one of 24 neglected tropical diseases targeted for elimination by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2021-2030 roadmap. Though it is uncommon in Europe, it still represents a high burden of disease worldwide, with 182,815 cases reported across the globe.