Leprosy in India: The road to a disease-free future

Leprosy in India: The leprosy prevalence rate in India has declined from 57.2 per 10,000 (1981) to 0.57 per 10,000 (2025), a major public health achievement. Despite this, the National Leprosy Elimination Programme (NLEP) has now adopted the National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy 2023 to 2027, which aims to stop transmission and achieve zero indigenous cases by the year 2030.

What is leprosy?

Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease (NTD), also known as Hansen’s disease. It is found in more than 120 countries, with approximately 200,000 new cases reported each year.
It is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. If left untreated, ulcers can lead to deformity and disability.
It is a disease that completely isolates the patient from society.
It affects the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose (nasal mucosa).
A chronic infectious disease that primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucous membranes, and eyes.

Symptoms:

Discolored patches on the skin and loss of sensation (touch, pain, temperature).
Excessive weight loss.
Muscle weakness and non-healing blisters.
Numbness in the hands and feet.
Deformities in the hands, feet, and face.
Inability to close the eyes and poor vision.

Transmission:

It is spread through droplets from the nose and mouth during frequent, close contact with untreated patients.

Symptoms usually take about 3-5 years to appear after exposure to the bacteria that cause leprosy.

Types of Leprosy

First: Paucibacillary (PB):

Few or no bacteria are found in a slit-skin smear.
The patient has a very low number of leprosy bacteria (mild form)

Second: Multibacillary (MB):

A high number of bacteria are found in a slit-skin smear.
A very high number of leprosy bacteria is found in the patient’s body (more severe and infectious form).

Treatment and Control

Multi-drug therapy (MDT), introduced in 1983, revolutionized leprosy treatment.
Leprosy is treated with multi-drug (MDT) therapy, which includes three drugs: hepsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine.
Early diagnosis and MDT can prevent disability and deformities.
Elimination of leprosy is a centrally sponsored scheme under the National Health Mission.
Continued focus on awareness, stigma reduction, and rehabilitation is crucial for complete elimination.
The Nikushtha 2.0 portal is an integrated portal for leprosy case management.

Leprosy, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, is one of the world’s oldest known diseases. Knowledge of the disease dates back thousands of years to the oldest civilizations in China, Egypt, and India. World Leprosy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of January; in India it is celebrated on 30 January.