Leprosy scenario in southern part of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, after 16 years of control work.

This article examines the changes that occurred in epidemiological indices over a period of 16 years following the introduction of MDT in Ullal town, south of Mangalore city, having a population of 130,000. The analysis indicates that new case-detection rates and prevalence rates showed a declining trend due to shorter duration of treatment with MDT. There was a ten-fold reduction in the prevalence rate during the first 6 years, from 23 in 1987 (230 cases) to 2.76 per 10,000 (29 cases) at the end of 16 years. The number of nmultibacillary cases among the newly detected cases showed a downtrend (from 28 cases in 1987 to 5 in 2001). The number of newly detected cases presenting with single lesion also showed a declining trend.