Under India's National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), the definition of 'elimination' of leprosy used as the operational target was:

• A Zero new cases of leprosy in the country
• B Incidence below 1 per 100,000 population per year
• C No new Grade 2 disability cases detected
• D Prevalence rate below 1 per 10,000 population at the national level ✓

Explanation

The WHO/NLEP operational definition of leprosy elimination is a prevalence rate of less than 1 case per 10,000 population. India achieved this target at the national level in December 2005. However, some sub-national units (districts and blocks) still have prevalence above this threshold, and the global goal is now moving toward zero transmission (interruption) rather than mere elimination.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.