Leprosy rate in five districts higher than national average

‘Of the 2,897 new cases detected last year, 2,710 have been cured’

Although Karnataka is considered a low leprosy endemic State, the prevalence rate in the five districts of Raichur, Ballari, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, and Chamarajanagar continues to be higher than the national average of 0.69%.

Concerned over this trend, the Health Department had taken up a 14-day leprosy case detection campaign (LCDC) in the five districts. This unique initiative under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is on the lines of the pulse polio campaign.

State Joint Director (Leprosy) S. Puspha Raj told

The Hindu that the campaign is aimed at early detection of all hidden leprosy cases through an active door-to-door survey.

Karnataka is one of the 19 States/Union Territories that are covered under the campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to the department’s data, Karnataka has 2,501 cases detected and under treatment till September 30 this year. “Although Karnataka’s overall prevalence rate is 0.37 %, there are nine districts where the prevalence ranges between 0.5% and 1%. Since 1986, 5,67,141 cases have been cured of leprosy in the State,” he said. The district-wise data shows that five districts in Karnataka have crossed the national average rate of prevalence. Ballari has the highest rate with 0.97 % and Hassan and Kodagu have the lowest with 0.03%. The districts having a prevalence rate of more than one case per 10,000 people, in any of the last three years, have been included in this campaign.

During the LCDC campaign, teams of ASHA workers along with a male volunteer will go door to door and observe for skin patches on people. Those found with any patches will be referred to the nearest primary health centre. Each team has a target to cover 200 houses (20 a day) in their jurisdiction, Dr. Raj explained.

G.N. Rajani, senior medical officer, NLEP, said the multi-drug therapy that is currently used to treat patients is very effective and the success rate is over 90% if patients adhere to the treatment protocol. “Of the 2,897 new cases detected last year, 2,710 have been cured. Similarly, in 2015, 3,037 of the 3,065 new cases detected have been cured. Leprosy eradication programme has come a long way from 1986 to 2017. The prevalence rate dropped from 40 cases per 10,000 population in 1986 to 0.38% per 10,000 population in 2017,” she explained.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), multibacillary (infectious) leprosy is a more severe form of the disease and Karnataka has a significant proportion of such cases (74 %). The State also has seen a significant number of woman patients (37 %) and children (5.98 %), she added.