Leprosy control

Abstract

The actual number of leprosy cases requiring treatment in the world is not known. In 1970, there were close to 3 million registered patients but a conservative estimate of the total number of cases was over 10 million (6.5 million in Asia, 3.5 million in Africa, and 350,000 in the Americas). During 1976/77, questionnaires were distributed to countries through WHO Regional Offices and the results, when available, will give an up-to-date appraisal of the leprosy situation. The article, which is based on the Director-General's report to the World Health Assembly in 1979, describes WHO's efforts in technical cooperation to control leprosy in the various regions and the available resources for carrying out this work.