India accounts for 60% of new leprosy cases globally

NEWDELHI:India accounts for 60% of the world’s new leprosy cases, with more than 127,000 confirmed cases in 2015 largely because of the stoppage of active surveillance after reaching elimination levels, says the fourth WHO Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases released on Wednesday.

Around 210,000 new leprosy cases were reported worldwide in 2015, with only 14 countries reporting more than 1,000 cases and accounting for 95% of the global cases.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes and the mucous membrane of the windpipe. It is completely curable using multi-drug therapy available free in public hospitals and treatment in the early stages prevents disability.

India successfully eliminated (less than one case/10,000 population) leprosy at the national level in December 2005, but 118 districts still have to reach elimination levels. Chattisgarh and Dadar and Nagar Haveli are the worst affected. “Four states — Delhi, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh and Odisha — reported increased prevalence over last year, though they had earlier achieved elimination,” said a health ministry official.

What’s more worrying is that India has not recorded a drastic fall in new cases since elimination in 2005. New cases have gone down marginally over the past decade, from 139,000 in 2006 to 127,000 in 2015. The annual new case detection rate and prevalence rate, the two indicators of programme success, have not improved since 2005 largely because India stopped active surveillance after reaching elimination levels. “India now relies on voluntary reporting, which may lead to many cases being detected late and for people getting treated after disability has set in,” said the ministry official.