Hot spots of leprosy in the endemic area of São Luís, Maranhão State, Northeastern Brazil.

Background: Despite the decreasing of leprosy cases in Brazil, its occurrence remains high in certain Brazilian cities. The aim of the study was to analyze the spatial pattern of leprosy in São Luís, capital of Maranhão State, Northeastern Brazil.

Methodology: An ecological study was carried out based on secondary data from leprosy cases and contacts reported in the Notification of Injury Information System in2015, and information on residency domiciles in three districts in the city.

Epidemiologic study of 107 cases of families with leprosy in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Backgrounds: ultibacillary patients are the major source of infection in leprosy. Nevertheless, the risk is higher in household contacts between multibacillary patients than paucibacillary patients and in the general population. Household contacts are in close genetic relationship with the index case-patient.

[The impact of leprosy elimination strategy on an endemic municipality in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil].

Various strategies for eliminating leprosy as a public health problem have evolved in the last 20 years. In some countries, especially highly endemic ones, the WHO target rate for leprosy elimination fell far short. The current study aimed to analyze the impact of different strategies for reducing leprosy prevalence in Duque de Caxias, a highly endemic municipality in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.