Leprosy Update in China, 2019

Objective: 

To study the epidemiology of leprosy in China in 2019 and give suggestions to improve future leprosy control activities.

Methods: 

We collected leprosy data from the Leprosy Management Information System in China, which includes data from 31 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, except for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. We then performed a descriptive analysis of these data.

Results: 

A total of 464 new leprosy cases were reported nationwide in 2019, with a case detection rate of 0.033/100,000. The proportions of children younger than 15years, multibacillary cases, and cases with World Health Organization grade 2 disability were 1.3%, 90.3%, and 21.6%, respectively. A total of 2,219 leprosy cases were registered in China by the end of 2019, giving a prevalence rate of 0.158/100,000. Fifty-six counties had a prevalence rate of more than 1/100,000, and most of them were located in Southwest China. There were 31 reported relapse cases.

Conclusion: 

The prevalence of leprosy has improved continuously throughout China, but the southwest region is still an area of concern.