title: Role of dermatologists in leprosy elimination and post-elimination era.
abstract: Would it not have been better to have left out the word 'elimination' altogether in the question and do what WHO has done in its new strategic plan for 2006-2010, 'Global Strategy for further reducing the Leprosy Burden and Sustaining Leprosy Control Activities'? Why not use a title such as 'The Role of Dermatologists in reducing the Leprosy Burden and Sustainig Leprosy Control Activities'? Some elements of the 'foundation' of the elimination policy have been (and are still) very controversial, its definition and the unsubstantiated (up till now) claim that when reaching a prevalence rate of less than 1 per 10,000, the transmission of the infection would be interrupted and the incidence would therefore decline.
authors.affiliation: NLR Brasil, Av. Marechal Câmara No. 350, Sala 1002, Centro, Rio de Janeiro-R.J. CEP: 20.020-080, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Augusto da Costa
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.forename: Linda F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Pieter A M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schreuder
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D003880:Dermatology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014944:World Health Organization