Global leprosy update, 2013; reducing disease burden

Multidrug therapy (MDT) still remains the mainstay of leprosy control 3 decades after its introduction. In the initial few years of MDT, the prevalence of leprosy reduced drastically, by as much as 45%, prompting the World Health Assembly (WHA 44)1 to call for elimination of leprosy as a public health problem at global level by the year 2000. Elimination of leprosy was defined as a reduction of disease prevalence to <1 case per 10 000 population. The call for elimination strengthened political will in countries where leprosy was endemic and garnered support from national and international stakeholders. As a result, the goal of elimination of leprosy at global level was achieved by the year 2000. With few exceptions, all countries also reached the goal of elimination at national level by 2005.2 Early detection of leprosy cases and treatment of all cases with MDT are still the main principles of leprosy control. Two recent global strategies focussed on quality and reach of leprosy services, aiming at reducing the disease burden due to leprosy. The enhanced global strategy for further reducing disease burden due to leprosy (2011–2015) set a target of reducing new cases with visible deformities or grade 2 disabilities (G2D cases) to 35% of the rate in 2010.