Leprosy
mailing list – September 26th, 2005
Ccn: all.
From: J Shen, Nanjing,
Jiangsu, People’s Democratic Republic of China.
Dear Dr Noto,
It is very interesting to have seen
many discussions on decrease in the number of new cases in India.
There indeed were many factors influencing the case detection. I think the current situation
in India provides the good leprosy services to leprosy patients.
Firstly, the integration of leprosy control with general
health services has been conducted in many states in India. Although
the progress might be slow, some reports showed that leprosy services
were well covered in leprosy high endemic areas after integration of
leprosy control with general health services. The leprosy services were more
accessible to the leprosy patients who need the help.
Secondly, the continuous MLECs were carried out in India in the past
years, and the health workers did a good job in IEC on leprosy during
MLECs. Some reports also showed that awareness of leprosy in the
communities was improved, and the number of self-reporting cases had
increased.
No special campaigns on active case detection can avoid the
over-reporting, recycling registration and false patient registration
in India. I think it may be the main reason of reduction in new
case detection in India in 2004.
However, we should keep the close monitoring on the case detection
trend of leprosy. Whether there was an under-detection of new cases or
not? What is the influence on leprosy epidemiology if there was an
under-detection of new cases in India where a majority of patients are
PB cases?
Thank you!
Kind regards!
Dr Shen Jianping
Institute of Dermatology
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
National Centre for STD and Leprosy
Control
Nanjing
