The end of leprosy is not imminent, but it is on the horizon.

Within the leprosy research community, there has been a recent but quite rapid transition away from the old slogan of ‘elimination as a public health problem’ to a new focus on the interruption of transmission. Once transmission has stopped, the disease itself will disappear over a period of time, but this may take some years because of the long incubation period of leprosy; new case numbers will decline quickly, but people living with leprosy will have a normal life expectancy. Their needs, in terms of managing leprosy-related disability and reducing discrimination, will require attention for decades. Many groups engaged in leprosy work subscribe to a three-fold goal of ending transmission, ending disability and ending discrimination.