Leprosy elimination campaign in Qazvin province, Islamic Republic of Iran (2006–07)

Multi-drug therapy (MDT) and Leprosy Elimination Campaigns (LEC) are the major strategies for eliminating leprosy. We report the results of a LEC conducted in 2006 in Qazvin. A total of 1987 individuals (1379 household contacts of 319 registered leprosy patients and 608 people from 3 endemic villages with a high prevalence of leprosy) were examined for detection of new cases of leprosy. All new cases were given MDT and were reviewed after a year. There were 256 suspected cases of leprosy, 13 of whom were confirmed as new cases (7 were classified as multibacillary leprosy). None had visible deformity nor was 20 years old. All patients completed the recommended MDT course. The few cases detected suggest that in low prevalence areas, a longterm approach of integrated leprosy services and disability management may be more appropriate than LEC as a leprosy elimination strategy.