According to the government about 55.5 per cent of new leprosy cases detected world-wide in 2010 were reported in India. Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad said of the total 2,28,474 new leprosy cases detected world-wide in 2010, India contributed 1,26,800 cases which is about 55.5 per cent of the global disease burden.
Based on the information received from states/union territorites, there is an overall decrease in reported leprosy cases in 2010-11 as compared to 2009-10, but 14 states/UTs showed an increase in the fresh cases reported, he said.
On whether it is possible to eradicate leprosy from the country, Azad said the present strategy is to achieve less than one case per 10,000 population.
He said this level was achieved at the national level in 2005 and the Ministry is now concentrating on achieving elimination of leprosy at district level during the 12th Plan (2012-17).
He said it would be done through early case detection and case management and capacity building of medical/para-medical staff and community workers, besides improved monitoring and supervision. Although Uttar Pradesh registered a reduction of 1,964, the maximum of 25,509 fresh leprosy cases in 2010-11 were reported here. This was followed by 20,547 cases in Bihar and 15,498 in Maharashtra and another 10,321 from West Bengal.
Among the states which showed an increase in cases were Maharashtra, Orissa Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Kerala .
Among states which showed a decrease in cases were Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Tamil Nadu among others.
