Conjugal leprosy: is there a need for active surveillance in endemic areas?:

Leprosy is an ancient chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily residing in skin and peripheral nerves, leading to varied spectrum of clinical manifestations.1 Leprosy has been endemic to India since antiquity.During the 20th century, health authorities and private agencies waged war towards elimination of the disease.The elimination of leprosy as a public health prob-lem was officially declared in India on 31 December 2005.2 This does not mean the disease is eliminated.However, many do not now consider leprosy to be a significant health issue.3–5 We report a case of conjugal leprosy which provides substantial evidence of the continued threat of leprosy in India.