Rising Leprosy Cases in Andhra Pradesh Raise Concerns Amidst Pandemic Challenges
Kurnool: Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a rising trend in leprosy cases. 2017–18 witnessed 4,695 new cases in the state, followed by 5,294 in 2018–19, 4,685 cases in 2019–20, 1,811 in 2020–21 and 1,888 in 2021–22. However, officials from the leprosy wing observe that the actual numbers may be higher during 2020 and 2021 because of limited visits by survey teams due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Kurnool district leprosy officer Dr. L. Bhaskar said in 2020 and 2021 their staff members had been otherwise busy. They stopped collecting data due to social distancing norms.
A senior official from state medical and health department too says all surveys and obligatory data collection during Covid pandemic had been stalled, as they remained engaged in Covid-related support activities.
Kurnool district accounted for 472 leprosy cases in 2018, 304 in 2019, 342 in 2020, 92 in 2021, 137 in 2022 and 164 cases in 2023. AIDS and leprosy control wings of the medical and health department conduct door-to-door surveys across the state as part of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). The enumeration process is continuing in some districts.
A leprosy wing official said treatment involves administration of Multi-Drug Therapy, which is provided free of cost for 6 months in cases of low-germ leprosy and 9 months when germs are high in percentage.
According to officials, detection of new cases since 2016 in Leprosy Case Detection Campaigns (LCDC) has redoubled disease identification measures to control leprosy state-wide. A campaign conducted in Vizianagaram district in September 2016 revealed 163 new cases, leading to further campaigns in subsequent years.
Officials focused on 11 districts including Nellore, Vizianagaram, Anantapur, Kurnool, and Srikakulam as a pilot project. People showing suspected symptoms are referred to the nearest government hospital for a thorough medical examination. If diagnosed with leprosy, they will be directed to the leprosy wing or dermatology department of the district hospital for treatment.
Lack of awareness among affected individuals during the initial stages of the disease has been identified as a major cause for spread of leprosy.
Dr. Bhaskar said a leprosy patient can infect others. The disease surfaces only after many months or years, depending on immunity levels of the infected. He observed that new infections could have possibly reduced during Covid pandemic due to social distancing and other measures.
