Geospatial tools in leprosy elimination: Enhancing precision in active case detection and resource allocation

Leprosy, known also as Hansen’s disease, is an infectious highly stigmatizing neglected tropical disease (NTD) that may cause permanent disabilities [1]. Despite significant advances in treatment and control, leprosy remains a global public health concern with close to 200,000 new cases of leprosy notified worldwide annually [2]. Reaching out to missing and hidden cases, along with early diagnosis, are priorities for successful leprosy control and elimination [3]. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have shown promising results in improving disease control strategies by identifying high-risk areas for targeted interventions [4]. Additionally, GIS provides the ability to display spatial distribution of diseases by integrating geographical data with tabular information from sources such as spreadsheets, tables, and graphs [5]. We advocate for concrete integration of GIS in leprosy control, aiming at the elimination of transmission, underscoring its potential to refine active case detection (ACD), optimize resource allocation, and enhance cost-effectiveness.