18.1.2 How can leprosy be controlled?
Access to leprosy information, diagnosis and treatment with MDT remain key elements in the strategy to eliminate the disease as a public health problem (see Box 18.1). Elimination is defined as reaching a prevalence rate of less than one leprosy case per 10,000 population.
Prevalence refers to the total number of cases existing at a given time.
Box 18.1 Leprosy control measures
- Early case finding of infectious persons.
- Adequate treatment using combination of anti-leprosy drugs, multidrug therapy (MDT) and support for all leprosy patients.
- Public education about early signs and symptoms of leprosy, control measures and action against stigma and discrimination.
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18.1 Leprosy and its control