title: [The program for the elimination of leprosy: ambitious challenges, novel approaches, issues in doubt].
abstract: The WHO-sponsored programme on the "elimination of leprosy as a public health problem by the Year 2000" has been highly successful. Over 9 million patients were treated by multiple drug therapy. The number of patients world-wide has been reduced by more than 90 per cent over the last 10 years, being at present less than 800,000. Transmission however, the ultimate goal of the programme, has not been interrupted. The number of new cases detected per year is still high. This observation raises serious questions regarding the future of the programme.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lechat
mesh_terms: D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005544:Forecasting; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D015995:Prevalence; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents