LEPROSY - THE BEGINNING OF AN END TO A PUBLIC-HEALTH PROBLEM

Incidence rates of leprosy seem to be falling in most countries around the world, despite the HIV epidemic. Among the reasons for the declin ing rates are changing socioeconomic conditions and high BCG vaccinati on coverage. The numbers of people disabled by leprosy, however, are m ore important than incidence rates of leprosy per se. The issue of the disabled will remain a public health problem for many decades to come .