It is difficult to foresee the future, but several factors offer hope that the disease will be eliminated. First of all good results with more than 12 million patients treated and a corresponding reduction in the impact of the disease. Secondly progressive focalisation of leprosy, and concentration of care in ever smaller geographical areas.
But other indications are less hopeful. The number of new cases which is not decreasing. The presence of infective diseases depends in the diffusion of their causing agents in the environment. By eliminating or reducing the causes we can eliminate the disease. With regard to leprosy the key question today is if we have succeeded in reducing the presence of M. leprae under the limit or not. The fundamental indicator, which will supply the answer, is the number of new cases in the world today. Everyone hopes this indicator will start to decrease in the coming years. (Source : Dossier Lebbra di Salvatore Noto)