Elimination of leprosy as a public health problem: progress and prospects.

摘要: Leprosy is still an important problem in about 80 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, some 2.4 million persons being estimated to have the disease 1994. The WHO-recommended standard multidrug therapy (MDT) was introduced 1980s has been shown be effective combating disease. Experiences based on many thousands patients treated with MDT over past decade indicate extremely low relapse rates (cumulative around 1%). By end 1993, 5.6 had cured, global cumulative coverage registered reached 89%. number cases fell from 5.4 1985 1.7 significant progress made leprosy control enabled World Health Assembly 1991 set a goal for eliminating as public health by year 2000. One epidemiological factor that very unevenly distributed: 80% confined only five 92% just 25 countries. elimination strategy envisages identifying treating total 5 1994 cost dealing these at US$ 420 million, including 150 drugs.