Leprosy control in Shandong Province, China, 1955-1983; some epidemiological features.

A comprehensive leprosy control program was launched in Shandong Province, People's Republic of China, in 1955, with the establishment of the Provincial Skin Disease Control Institute and a network of Skin Disease Control Stations and leprosy hospitals at the county level. Through repeated different methods of case finding, dapsone monotherapy, and intensive follow up, incidence has decreased from 5.1 to 0.46/100,000 in 25 years. Findings such as the increase in the mean age at onset and in the lepromatous-to-tuberculoid ratio, and a general decline in the age-specific incidence in successive cohorts, are in concurrence with the findings in other countries where leprosy is disappearing.