India records over three thousand child leprosy cases as transmission goals face hurdles

India recorded 3,832 new leprosy cases among children in the 2025-26 period, exceeding the National Leprosy Eradication Programme target of 2,000 cases by 91.6%. Thirty-seven of these children already had Grade-2 disability at the time of diagnosis, which points to delayed detection.

Global Standing

According to World Health Organisation figures for 2025, India reported the highest number of new leprosy cases in the world at 91,783. Brazil followed with 22,901 cases and Indonesia recorded 16,292, with these three nations accounting for 78.3% of global detections. India also led the world in new child leprosy cases with 3,832. The national prevalence rate stood at 0.56 per 10,000 population, while the overall Grade-2 disability rate was 1.34 per million.

Expert Views

Dr. Kabir Sardana, Professor and Head of Dermatology at ABVIMS-Dr. RML Hospital in Delhi, stated that the ongoing caseload is partly due to gaps in case detection. The Health Ministry has pointed out high-endemic and hard-to-reach areas as priorities for active case detection, household surveys, and targeted campaigns. Historical data shows child detections stood at 11,365 in 2014-15 before fluctuating through the decade, dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic and reaching 3,832 in 2025-26. High-burden districts with prevalence above one case per 10,000 include 23 districts in Chhattisgarh, 21 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Maharashtra and Odisha, and 10 in Madhya Pradesh.

Context

Leprosy is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects the skin and nerves, though it is fully curable using free multidrug therapy provided through public health programs. Because the disease has a long incubation period spanning years, the presence of new child cases serves as a key indicator of ongoing transmission within communities.