Analysis on the detection of new leprosy cases before, during and after the year of leprosy elimination campaigns.

To analyse the impact on of case finding of leprosy elimination campaigns (LECs), data on newly detected leprosy cases in a leprosy endemic area were collected before, during and after the year of LEC. The number of new leprosy cases detected during the year of LEC was significantly higher than previously. The number of newly detected cases after the year of LEC was similar to that of detected before the year of LEC in counties with persisting case finding activities. However, the number of newly detected cases after the year of LEC significantly decreased in counties without active case finding activities. The average distance from the homes of leprosy cases detected during LEC to the leprosy control unit at the count town was 62.8 km, which is farther than that of other leprosy cases detected before and after the year of LEC. The average time from disease onset to diagnosis of leprosy cases detected after the year of LEC shortened. The results also showed that carrying out LECs is unlikely to have a significant impact on the trend of case finding within a short time in local areas, but it may improve some indicators of leprosy patients and so promote leprosy control in local areas.

Analysis of Leprosy Endemic and Its Control in Yunnan Province / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To analyze the trends of leprosy epidemic and evaluate the effects of its control in Yunnan Province. Methods The epidemiologic data were analyzed. Results There were 50 797 leprosy patients detected in Yunnan during 1954～ 1998 with a high prevalence in china.Among these patients,37 639 were cured,10 447 died,and 1 069 dropped out.There were 1 642 active patients at the end of 1998.It was in 1966 that the prevalence is highest(0.82/1 000) with 18 350 active patients and decreased to 0.04/1 000 in 1998.The incidence was 19.37/100 000 in 1957 and decreased to 0.32/100 000 in 1998.The most numerous patient (4 680) was detected with a rate of 24.45/100 000 in 1958,and the rate decreased to 1.63/100 000 in 1998.In 1960s and 1970s, a lot of leprosy villages were built and a mass survey of leprosy patients was taken.Doctors treated patients with DDS alone at that time. MDT was the first to use in Mengla in 1983 and spread during 1986～ 1989. Conclusion Several measures were taken for detecting and treating patients effectively, and the endemic and incidence decreased by a big margin as well.