New case-detection trends in a multi-drug therapy programme: definite reduction in sight.

MDT has made a visible impact on leprosy in Andhra Pradesh as reflected by reduction of prevalence as well as in new case-detection, which is used as a proxy for incidence of the disease. Such reductions have also been seen in West Godavari district and the Damien Leprosy Centre at Vegavaram (an NGO project), where MDT is being implemented since 1988.