Leprosy on verge of resurge
Experts warn leprosy could possibly resurge to an epidemic if political will to tackle the disease continues to wane, after some 3805 new cases were reported in 2013 along with disabilities. More than 200 cases each were reported in states as Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa and Benue in 2012 alone, saidDr Moses Onoh, medical advisor […]
Experts warn leprosy could possibly resurge to an epidemic if political will to tackle the disease continues to wane, after some 3805 new cases were reported in 2013 along with disabilities.
More than 200 cases each were reported in states as Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa and Benue in 2012 alone, saidDr Moses Onoh, medical advisor for The Leprosy Mission-Nigeria (TLM).
Among the new cases, some 12% already had deformities resulting from untreated leprosy, which shows the cases were reported late, allowing the disease to progress, he noted. Another 10% of the cases reported were children.
The new cases come 14 years after Nigeria reached elimination targets of one case per 10,000 population set by the World Health Organisation.
Nigeria is among 16 countries which still record more than 1,000 cases annually—alongside Tanzania and Liberia where leprosy has resurged, said Dr Sunday Udo, TLM national director.
The mission has called for larger involvement in anti-leprosy efforts to sustain early detection of cases and prevent disabilities associated with the disease by targeting areas of ongoing transmission.
“We need to go out and look for these cases or we will have artificial zero,” he said.
Leprosy is curable and treatment is free using multi-drug therapy that’s been in use for decades. Some 2,000 patients have been treated in the last 20 years across states where TLM works.
But the mission says efforts are hampered by weak political commitment, inadequate services and referrals and high level of stigma targeted at people who have suffered leprosy, even after they have been cured.
Advocates argue against the label “leper” instead of simply “people living with leprosy.”
“The disability surrounding leprosy is the basis for stigma,” said Dr Udo, but physical disability can be avoided if the disease is detected early on and treated accordingly.
The disease is caused by the organism Mycobacterium leprii, similar to the organism that causes tuberculosis—which is easier transmitted than leprosy.
However, unsanitary conditions predispose individuals to the disease.