Epidemiology and control of leprosy--a review of progress over the last 30 years.

A review of progress in the epidemiology and control of leprosy indicates that, even though there has been only limited advancement in the epidemiological understanding of the disease, control of leprosy through chemotherapy of patients has been highly successful. Diagnostic tools using serology and other means have substantially improved, particularly in meeting research needs. There has been a reduction of more than 50% over the past decade in the leprosy case load in the world, due mainly to the vigorous implementation of multidrug therapy (MDT) in the treatment of the disease. MDT has been remarkably effective in curing patients, preventing relapse and minimizing side-effects. The progress in disease control in recent years prompted the World Health Assembly in 1991 to endorse a goal of global elimination of leprosy as a public health problem by the year 2000, defining elimination of leprosy as attaining a level of prevalence below one case per 10,000 population. The future prospects for leprosy control in general and improved MDT appear to be good.