Leprosy identified in Sumba Island, eastern Indonesia: elimination targets under threat

Leprosy is a neglected disease that primarily affects the skin, eyes, and nerves. More than 200,000 new cases of leprosy are reported each year worldwide.1 Although leprosy is curable, an estimated 3–4 million people globally live with some form of disability associated with leprosy.2 In 2000, WHO declared Indonesia to have successfully eliminated leprosy (prevalence of less than one case per 10,000 population).3 As a consequence, the national leprosy control programme was downscaled substantially, particularly affecting medically underserved areas.4 However, in recent years, 12,000–17,000 new cases have been reported annually, ranking Indonesia third in leprosy incidence only behind India and Brazil.1,5