On leprosy control policy in Okinawa

Abstract

The segregation policy on leprosy control in Okinawa has been enforced in 1938, when the policy delayed for 30 years after proclaim of leprosy prevention law. After then, in 1944, two leprosaria have been destroyed during the 2nd World War.So leprosy segreation policy has been performed only for 6 years in Okinawa. The number of leprosy patients in the field was 547 and the leprosy prevalence rate (per population 10, 000) was 11.6 in 1900 and these numbers in 1944, were 1, 583 and 26.9, respectively.The patients in the field incresed very much, because the ratio of segregation of the patients was not continually kept in high level (see Tab. 3).According to the proclaim of new leprosy prevention law by the Ryukyu Government after the War in 1961, the out-patient treatment policy on leprosy control has put in operation in 1963.After then, many out-patients have received treatment and the high ratio of treated patient (over 70%) has been covered continually for 20 years. (see Tab. 5).So the prevalence rate has come down until 12.7 in 1983. Also active leprosy control programs have been performed by new law as follows:1. School Survey : Some patients in school children have been detected from 1967 to 1970, but after then, no patient has been detected. School survey was not effective in the areas where Leprosy Incidence Rate was under 0.2%.2. Mass Survey conbined Tb Survey: In 1978 and 1979, some patients could be detected, but since 1980 no patient was detected.3. Contact Tracing Examination: The examination was most effective among other leprosy case-finding programs. (see Tab. 8, 9).Leprosy Prevention Program: The following programs have been carried out.1. BCG Vaccination for contact house-hold children was not so effective (see Tab. 11).2. Chemo-prophylaxy program for contact house-hold children has been tried. One hundred and twenty-five children have been treated by DDS and 37 children by rifampicin (RFP) puls DDS.The Incidence Rate of chemo-prophylaxy group was 0.7%, on the contrary, that of control group was 2.1%.