The most recently collected figures on cases of leprosy around the world were published in WHO’s Weekly Epidemiological Record on 27^th August 2010.

This data, which relates to leprosy cases during 2009, was submitted by 38 countries from the WHO African Region, 36 countries from the WHO Americas Region, 10 from the WHO South-East Asia Region, 22 from the Eastern Mediterranean Region and 35 from the Western Pacific Region.

 

It is acknowledged that national leprosy programmes, with the support of national and international partners, have helped reduce the number of new cases of leprosy between 2008 and 2009 by 4,211 cases; that is from 249,007 to 244,796 cases. The report stresses the need for countries continue to maintain their anti-leprosy efforts to ensure that there are fewer and fewer cases in the future.

 

The report notes that an enhanced strategy, developed by WHO and its partners, will guide leprosy control programmes for five years from 2011. The Enhanced Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Disease Burden due to Leprosy (Plan Period 2011 - 2015) places emphasis on reducing the number of new cases with grade-two disability. This goal encourages timely case finding before impairment and disability have begun. Since 12,000 – 15,000 new cases have been found with visible impairment between 2004 and 2009 this could have an important impact on reducing some of the social, physical and socio-economic effects of leprosy on those who have leprosy and their families in the future. 

 

 

Link: WER 8535

 

Links: Enhanced Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Disease Burden due to Leprosy (Plan Period 2011 – 2015) and its Operational Guidelines

 

Liens: Stratégie mondiale renforcée pour davantage réduire la charge de la lèpre (Période couverte : 2011 – 2015) et les Directives opérationnelles

Categories: Countries, International Collaboration, News and Notes, Technical information