Incidence of leprosy in Puerto Rico. Update 1980
Vázquez Bolet, M.; Sánchez, J.L.; Ramos Caro, F.A.
Boletin de la Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico 73(10): 488-496
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4849 PMID: 6950726 Document Number: 701164
A study of the incidence of leprosy in the island of Puerto Rico encompassing the years from 1967 to 1980 is reported. A total of 320 cases of leprosy are documented of which 197 were diagnosed during this period, representing a rate of 4.6 cases per million population per year. The incidence of new cases ranged from 6 to 24 with a mean of 14.07. The prevalence for the entire island is 9.0 cases of leprosy per 100,000 inhabitants. The majority of these patients inhabit the coastal areas with Mayagüez and Manatí leading all municipalities. Morovis, a town in the center of the island, had the third highest annual rate per million inhabitants. This report on the incidence of leprosy in Puerto Rico over a 14-year period shows that the magnitude of the problem of leprosy has stayed relatively constant when compared to the last study, with only some minor changes in the epidemiological features. Few new indigenous foci have developed. Several measures are discussed which may contribute to the control of the disease in the island.
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