In a surprising development, Manipur has reported the detection of 26 new cases of leprosy across eight districts, contradicting earlier claims of achieving leprosy elimination in March 2021.
Geographic Spread
The newly identified cases are dispersed across the districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Bishnupur, Tamenglong, and Senapati. Among the affected individuals, there is one child and four females currently undergoing leprosy treatment.
Despite earlier reports indicating successful leprosy elimination in Manipur as of March 31, 2021, the recent surge in cases challenges the previous narrative. The state’s reported leprosy prevalence was remarkably low at 0.05/10,000 as of March 31, 2015, according to data from the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) covering the period from 2010 to 2015.
The union government aims to eliminate leprosy entirely and achieve “Leprosy Mukt Bharat” by 2027, emphasizing this goal through the ‘Sprash Leprosy Awareness Campaign 2024.’
Leprosy is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth. Contrary to misconceptions, the disease requires prolonged close contact with untreated individuals for transmission. Officials highlight that leprosy is 100% curable, emphasizing the importance of timely and appropriate treatment.