TY - JOUR
KW - Transmission interruption
KW - World health organization (WHO)
KW - Neglected tropical disease
KW - Public Health Surveillance
KW - leprosy
AU - Fatunmbi BS
AU - Taruc AY
AU - Sanikullah KH
AU - Garfin AMC
AU - Belimac JG
AU - Gatchalian AC
AU - Valdez MRDJ
AU - Buado CA
AU - Tejano KP
AU - Venida-Tablizo A
AU - Marquez-Protacio FV
AU - Dofitas BL
AU - Cunanan A
AU - Santos RAR
AU - Gajete FC
AU - Dumawat CP
AU - Caccam E
AU - Ko E
AU - de Jesus RP
AB - <jats:p>The Philippines achieved World Health Organization (WHO) certification for the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in 1998. Despite this milestone, new cases continue to be reported each year, highlighting the need for sustained surveillance and interventions to achieve zero transmission. This paper provides an update on the country’s progress toward interruption of leprosy transmission using national surveillance data and programmatic reports from 2020–2024. Quantitative data were obtained from the Department of Health (DOH) Field Health Services Information System (FHSIS), while policy and programmatic information were drawn from national reports, WHO guidance, and implementation reviews. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine trends in prevalence, case detection rates (CDRs), and age-sex distribution patterns to identify high-risk groups. Leprosy prevalence declined from 0.41 per 10,000 population in 2020 to 0.11 in 2024, remaining below the WHO elimination threshold. The CDR increased from 0.45 in 2022 to 1.17 per 100,000 in 2024, indicating recovery of active surveillance after COVID-19-related disruptions. Most newly detected cases occurred among adults aged 20–59 years (72%), although continued detection among children aged 0–14 years (6–7%) suggests ongoing transmission in selected endemic areas. Key program strengths include policy integration and WHO-supported surveillance initiatives, while major barriers include stigma, uneven local implementation, and limited access to rehabilitation. The Philippines has maintained low national prevalence while strengthening efforts toward transmission interruption. Continued investment in surveillance, contact tracing, stigma reduction, and integrated neglected tropical disease (NTD) services will be essential to achieving zero transmission, zero disability, and zero discrimination by 2030.</jats:p>
BT - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
DA - 07/2026
DO - 10.3390/tropicalmed11070192
IS - 7
LA - ENG
M3 - Article 
N2 - <jats:p>The Philippines achieved World Health Organization (WHO) certification for the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in 1998. Despite this milestone, new cases continue to be reported each year, highlighting the need for sustained surveillance and interventions to achieve zero transmission. This paper provides an update on the country’s progress toward interruption of leprosy transmission using national surveillance data and programmatic reports from 2020–2024. Quantitative data were obtained from the Department of Health (DOH) Field Health Services Information System (FHSIS), while policy and programmatic information were drawn from national reports, WHO guidance, and implementation reviews. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine trends in prevalence, case detection rates (CDRs), and age-sex distribution patterns to identify high-risk groups. Leprosy prevalence declined from 0.41 per 10,000 population in 2020 to 0.11 in 2024, remaining below the WHO elimination threshold. The CDR increased from 0.45 in 2022 to 1.17 per 100,000 in 2024, indicating recovery of active surveillance after COVID-19-related disruptions. Most newly detected cases occurred among adults aged 20–59 years (72%), although continued detection among children aged 0–14 years (6–7%) suggests ongoing transmission in selected endemic areas. Key program strengths include policy integration and WHO-supported surveillance initiatives, while major barriers include stigma, uneven local implementation, and limited access to rehabilitation. The Philippines has maintained low national prevalence while strengthening efforts toward transmission interruption. Continued investment in surveillance, contact tracing, stigma reduction, and integrated neglected tropical disease (NTD) services will be essential to achieving zero transmission, zero disability, and zero discrimination by 2030.</jats:p>
PB - MDPI AG
PY - 2026
SP - 1 
EP -  13
T2 - Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
TI - Transmission Interruption of Leprosy in the Philippines: An Update on the Current Program Priorities and Interventions
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/11/7/192/pdf?version=1783998387
VL - 11
SN - 2414-6366
ER -