Efficacy of BCG vaccine against leprosy and tuberculosis in northern Malawi

Protection afforded BCG vaccines against tuberculosis and leprosy varies widely between different populations. In the only controlled trial which assessed protective efficacy of BCG (Danish and Pasteur strains) against both diseases; there was slightly more protection against leprosy than against tuberculosis. Protection was estimated at 50 percent or greater against leprosy; and there was no evidence for lower protection against multibacillary than against paucibacillary disease. There was no statistically significant protection by BCG against tuberculosis in this population

Protective efficacy of BCG against leprosy in Northern Malawi

The effectiveness of a BCG vaccination programme in protecting against leprosy was assessed by case-control and cohort analyses of data from the Lepra Evaluation Project in Karonga District; Northern Malawi. Results indicate that BCG provides at least 50 percent protection against leprosy in this population and that protection is independent of age; sex; schooling status; or location within the project area. Agreement between these findings and those from a controlled trial in Uganda indicates that BCG is sufficiently effective against leprosy in East and Central Africa to be considered an important element of leprosy control in that region