01759nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260003200042653002700074653002700101653001000128653001200138100001400150700001300164700001200177700001500189245009200204856009800296300001000394490000600404520110500410022001401515       2026                            d  c04/2026bFrontiers Media SA10aEpidemiological trends10aretrospective analysis10aSudan10aleprosy1 aSiddig EE1 aAzhary A1 aAhmed M1 aMuvunyi CM00aEpidemiological trend of leprosy in Sudan, 2017-2020: a retrospective national analysis  uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/tropical-diseases/articles/10.3389/fitd.2026.1793089/pdf  a1 - 40 v73 a<p><strong>Introduction</strong></p>

<p>This study assesses the epidemiological trend of leprosy in Sudan from 2017 to 2020.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted for a period of four years per state using national surveillance data. Variables included case counts across 16 states. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20.</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>From 2017 to 2020, 2,174 leprosy cases were reported in Sudan. Cases were predominantly male (55.5%) and individuals aged 45–64 years (30.6%). Geographically, the highest caseload was in Gedaref (15.9%) and West Kordofan (15.8%) states. A significant decline in new cases was observed, from 845 in 2017 to 242 in 2020.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>

<p>Leprosy remains a public health threat in Sudan, with a specific geographic distribution. While the declining trend in new cases is encouraging, the persistent case load, particularly among older adults and in high-burden states, underscores the need for sustained control efforts.</p>
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