[Recent condition of new leprosy patients in Japan].

Most of 148 newly registered leprosy patients in the past 10 years from 1995 to 2004 in Japan had received some examinations, such as histopathology test (85%), skin smear test (84%), estimation of PGL-I antibody titer (55%) or detection M. leprae with PCR method (41%). 17% of newly patients should receive wrong therapy, if they had not had aforesaid clinical examinations in addition to count skin lesions. Improvement of technical level at skin smear test should be required for accurate treatment program in Japan. In Japanese patients, the number has been decreasing year by year; epidemiological condition was different between in Okinawa prefecture and in others, about ratio of sex, kind of type and age group.

[Survey on the present conditions of the residents regarding aging, aftereffects and subsequent complication].

A survey of present conditions of the residents regarding aging, aftereffects and subsequent complication was conducted and its data were analyzed in the National Leprosarium Osima Seisho-en; located on an isolated island of the Seto Inland Sea. The results showed that they have become older with a various type of disease and most of them suffered from aftereffects caused leprosy, although after therapy. This survey also suggests that future problems in the management of our leprosarium will no doubt be to cope with the aging and to reducing our scale.

[Leprosy Control and Basic Health Services Project].

Many tropical and subtropical communicable diseases are prevalent in Myanmar still now. Leprosy also is not completely controlled in spite of making exertions by the Government of Myanmar and more than 10,000 new leprosy patients were detected every year. In response to the pressure of World Health Organization (WHO), the government of Myanmar declared to eliminate this disease by the end of 2003, and all vertical staff concerned with leprosy control program concentrate to reach the goal of elimination (Prevalence rate: less than 1.0 per 10,000 population). Leprosy Control and Basic Health Services Project will be carried out in the project sites for 5 years, that is, from April, 2000 to March, 2001. Project purpose that was mentioned in the PDM were to support the leprosy control programme in Myanmar through the strengthening of Basic Health Service system by conducting training activities and other diseases' control programmes such as TB and Measles, by fully utilizing the above training opportunities. The Project started to conduct the main activities from 2001 as follows, 1. BHS training 2. Training of microscopic diagnosis 3. Sewing training as one of social rehabilitations 4. Training of reconstructive surgery 5. Survey on disabilities of leprosy patients, etc.

[Clinical cure of leprosy--a criteria in Japan(2002)].

In Japan, a cautious definition of clinical cure of leprosy has been used since 1988. This report presents a new definition of clinical cure for leprosy patients after multi-drug treatment is completed. When the patients complete the standard treatment published in 2000, they are defined as "clinically cured". The doctor in charge should inform the patient of the cure of the disease clearly. On the release from the treatment, it is important to explain necessary cares for protection against injuries and prevention from deformities. The patient should be careful about signs of relapse and reactions.