Towards a Leprosy-Free Country - China, 2011-2018.

ABSTRACT

What is already known about this topic? Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that is endemic in several countries. Control of leprosy has had targets set by World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Strategy 2016-2020 and by China through a national leprosy-control plan (2011-2020). What is added by this report? Data from the Leprosy Management Information System in China was analyzed and showed a national prevalence of 0.178 per 100,000 and detection rate of 0.037 per 100,000 residents in 2018. In addition, all the main targets for 2020 have been met by 2018 except for the proportion of counties or cities to reach a prevalence of less than 1/100,000 and the proportion of children cases with grade 2 disability (G2D). What are the implications for public health practice? There are still challenges remaining to close the gaps between current progress and the targets set forth by the WHO and China. However, lessons learned in China in developing and implementing the national program may be invaluable for future plans to achieve and sustain elimination of leprosy at global and country level.