BHUBANESWAR: Once eradicated, leprosy which is now prevalent in 18 districts of the State has put health officials on tenterhooks. The disease, known as Hansen’s disease, is a long-term infection by the bacteria Mycobacterium lepromatosis.
The disease, which was almost eliminated in 2006, resurfaced in 22 districts in 2013. From a prevalence rate of less than one (per 10,000 population) nearly a decade back, it now stands at 1.8 in 18 districts most of which are located in western region of the State.
As per the latest statistics, leprosy prevalence rate in the State is above the national average of one. After Chhattisgarh, Odisha is the only State apart from three Union Territories which has recorded prevalence rate of more than one.
While Chhattisgarh has recorded the highest prevalence rate of two, Delhi, Chandigarh and Lakshadweep have more than one. Six districts of Odisha have recorded the annual new case detection rate of more than 50 (per one lakh population).
The population of affected child is 10 per cent of the new cases detected. What is more alarming is the fact that the rate of grade-II disability is high in the State. It is nearly five (per 10 lakh population).
Joint Director (Leprosy) Dr BK Swain said leprosy cases are more prevalent in Western Odisha. The districts, which have recorded prevalence rate of greater than one, include Balangir, Bargarh, Sonepur, Deogarh, Koraput, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Boudh and Mayurbhanj.
While 6,742 leprosy patients were identified in 2010-11, the number rose to 8,312 in 2011-12. Though there was a marginal decrease in 2012-13 with 8,226 cases, the number of patients rose alarmingly to 10,645 in 2013-14 and 10,174 in 2015-16. As many as 8,004 cases were detected in 2014-15 and last year, the number of cases was 9,009.
There is, however, a silver lining in the elimination programme. Of 30 districts, 12 have prevalence rate of less than one. Odisha is also the only State which has reconstructive surgery facilities in 14 hospitals, 13 run by the Government and one by NGO. There are four leprosy homes with 458 beds at Cuttack, Sambalpur, Balasore and Paralakhemundi besides nearly 80 small colonies across the State.
Dr Swain said alarmed over rising leprosy cases, the State Government has decided to go for detection of patients by door-to-door visit on April 1 and observe it as leprosy awareness day. Besides, it has initiated various activities under National Leprosy Eradication Programme for total eradication of the disease by 2020.
“The block leprosy control programme and leprosy case detection campaign, which were confined to only endemic blocks, have been extended to 200 blocks. Our target is to achieve zero disability in new cases and continuous survey for next three years to detect and treat all,” he added.