Leprosy cases on the rise in Kasaragod with 32 people under treatment

Leprosy cases are on the rise in the Kasaragod district with 32 patients undergoing treatment, according to the Health department. The rise marks a reversal compared to the previous two years, say officials.

A senior health official said during 2024-25. the district reported 22 cases, including eight women and two children. In 2023-24, there were 24 cases, including six women and two children and three migrant workers. In 2025-26, 29 new cases have been identified, including 12 women, three children, and three migrant workers, taking the total number of patients under treatment to 32. None of the patients has developed grade 2 deformity, indicating early detection.

Health officials attributed the resurgence to a decline in vigilance under the leprosy eradication programme, after cases dropped sharply following intensive intervention in the mid-2000s, and increased migration.

Kasaragod had earlier been recognised as a model district for leprosy control following sustained awareness campaigns and active case detection, including the establishment of a dedicated leprosy unit at Kumbala in 2005. As cases declined, the unit was closed down and follow-up activities were merged with primary health centres leading to gaps in detection.

District leprosy officer Santosh Kumar told The Hindu that higher incidence had been reported from Madhur, Chengala, Kumbala, Badiyaduka, Chattanchal, Pallikkara, and Kasaragod and Kanhangad municipaliies. Community transmission among children had been identified in Madhur, Badiyaduka, Kanhangad, and Kasaragod, he said.

Dr. Santhosh said leprosy spread mainly through prolonged close contact and common symptoms included light-coloured or reddish patches on the skin with loss of sensation. He said the disease was curable with timely and regular medication available free of cost at government health facilities.

“As part of control measures, single dose Rifampicin prophylaxis under the Leprosy Post Exposure Prophylaxis programme has been implemented since September 2024. Family members and social contacts of patients are examined and those without active disease are given a single dose of Rifampicin, the key bactericidal drug in the multi-drug therapy (MDT) regimen, to break the chain of transmission,” he said.

Unified MDT was introduced from April 2025 providing a three drug regimen — Rifampicin, Clofazimine and Dapsone — for six months in paucibacillary cases and 12 months in multibacillary cases.

To address the situation, the Health department would conduct a two-week door-to-door survey from January 7 as part of the ‘Aswamedham 7.0’ campaign under the slogan “Let’s check the patches, protect health.” A total of 947 trained personnel, including ASHA workers and volunteers, would visit 3,56,947 households in the district for early detection.

Dr. Santosh said the involvement of professional bodies such as the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) and other doctors groups had strengthened efforts towards making Kasaragod leprosy free. “Leprosy is not a find treat and forget disease and that persons affected require continued surveillance even after completion of treatment,” he added.