Analysis on the detection of new leprosy cases before, during and after the year of Leprosy Elimination campaigns

In order to analyze the impact on the situation of case finding after Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (LECs), the data on newly detected leprosy cases in the leprosy high endemic areas have been collected before, during and after the period of carrying out LECs. The results showed that the number of new leprosy cases detected during the period of leprosy elimination campaigns was significantly high. The number of newly detected cases after the period of Leprosy Elimination Campaigns was similar to that of detected before the period of carrying out LECS in counties with persisting case finding activities. HOWEVER, the number of newly detected cases after the period of LECs significantly decreased in counties without active case finding activities. The average distance from the house of leprosy cases detected during LECs to the leprosy control unit at the count town is 62.8 kilometer which is farther more than that of other leprosy cases detected before and after the period of LECs. The average disease delay-time of leprosy cases detected after the year of LEC shortened. The results also showed that carrying out Leprosy Elimination Campaigns will have no significant impact on the trend of case-finding within a short time in local areas, but it may improve some leprosy indicators and promote the leprosy control in local areas.

By Dr. Shen Jianping