01434nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001200055653003700067653001100104653001200115653001500127100001400142700001500156700001500171700001500186700001600201245007700217300001000294490000600304520086800310022001401178       1990                            d  c1990 Dec10aDapsone10aDemocratic Republic of the Congo10aHumans10aleprosy10aPrevalence1 aTonglet R1 aPattyn S R1 aNsansi B N1 aEeckhout E1 aDeverchin J00aThe reduction of the leprosy endemicity in northeastern Zaire 1975/1989.  a404-60 v63 a<p>The leprosy endemy in Uele, North Eastern region of Zaire has declined considerably since the 1950's, particularly since 1975. The hypothesis is advanced that the most important causal factor has been the distribution of dapsone for many years, through a vertical programme. The gradual increase of dapsone resistance has been taken care of by the introduction of combined, multidrug therapy in the 1980's. The cost per patient detected and treated rises in inverse proportion to the decline in endemy; therefore, the time has come for the integration of a leprosy control in the primary health care strategy. However, central specialized teams financed by voluntary organisations should be maintained to assure training of personnel, to give advice in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of complications, to provide drugs and to assist in rehabilitation.</p>  a0393-2990