India Struggles To Curb Leprosy Transmission, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• India reported 91,783 new leprosy cases in 2025-26, exceeding the projected 65,000 by 41.2%.
• New cases among children were 91.6% above projections, indicating ongoing transmission.
• The rate of Grade 2 Disability (G2D) among new cases was 1.34 per million, higher than the projected one per million.
• India's national prevalence rate stood at 0.56 cases per 10,000 population by March 2026, below the elimination target of one case per 10,000.
• Chhattisgarh recorded the highest prevalence among States/UTs at 1.66 cases per 10,000 population.
• Single-Dose Rifampicin Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (SDR PEP) was administered to 91.2% of eligible contacts in 2025-26.

Detailed Insights:

• The significant increase in new cases, especially among children, highlights persistent challenges in early detection and disease control.
• Geographical concentration of the disease burden indicates a need for targeted interventions in high-prevalence regions.
• Despite the national prevalence rate being below the elimination target, 114 districts still exceed this threshold, requiring focused efforts.
• The high rate of Grade 2 Disability (G2D) suggests delays in diagnosis and treatment, leading to irreversible physical impairments.
• States like Chandigarh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha account for a disproportionate share of G2D cases.
• The increased administration of SDR PEP demonstrates an improved effort in preventive measures for contacts of leprosy patients.
• Achieving the projected interruption of transmission in only 148 out of 300 districts indicates a gap in program implementation and outreach.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Leprosy Elimination Target: A public health goal defined as a prevalence rate of less than one case per 10,000 population.
• Grade 2 Disability (G2D): Visible and irreversible physical impairments caused by leprosy, indicating delayed diagnosis and treatment.
• Single-Dose Rifampicin Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (SDR PEP): A preventive medication given to individuals who have been in close contact with a leprosy patient to reduce their risk of developing the disease.