Tamil Nadu Sees A Dip In Leprosy Cases By Over 58% In 2020-21

According to the data released by the State and National Leprosy Eradication Programme, There is a drastic fall in leprosy cases in Tamil Nadu from 4,252 cases in 2019-20 to 1,769 cases in 2020-21

Leprosy patient being treated. (Image: Twitter)

New Delhi: Leprosy cases in Tamil Nadu have fallen by 58.3 per cent in 2020-21 when compared to 2019-20, reports New Indian Express. Chennai has recorded a whopping reduction in the number of leprosy cases by 75.4 per cent.

According to the data released by the State and National Leprosy Eradication Programme, There is a drastic fall in leprosy cases in Tamil Nadu from 4,252 cases in 2019-20 to 1,769 cases in 2020-21. In Chennai, 315 cases of leprosy were found in 2019-20 while in 2020-21, 74 cases were detected.

Officials said that the reason behind the fall in leprosy cases is due to the diversion of field staff during the first and second waves and also people were reluctant for screening amid pandemic, reports TNIE.

"Though fieldwork was completely affected during peak-COVID times, gradually the work has started again and things are on back on track. In a few places, we have fewer cases. That data will be cross verified and we will look for leprosy-free areas also," said a senior official as quoted by New Indian Express.

"But only during the peaks were works affected. If there was a continued hindrance, then there would have been difficult in the early detection of cases. Cases would present at later stages, sometimes with deformity, which is a matter of concern as the goal of National Leprosy Eradication Programme is preventing deformity through early detection," TNIE further quoted the senior official.