The article ” Temporal evolution and spatial distribution of leprosy in a low-endemicity municipality in the state of São Paulo ,” published by Ramos and colleagues in the journal Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde: revista do SUS (RESS, vol. 31, no. 1), analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of leprosy in Ribeirão Preto, a municipality in the interior of the state of São Paulo, over a ten-year period (2006 to 2016), using specific spatial and temporal analytical methods. The study’s results showed the importance of information related to the profile, temporal trend, and spatial distribution of cases in the municipality to support health surveillance actions regarding this event.
Brazil is the second country in the world with the most recorded cases of leprosy. The distribution of the disease is heterogeneous across the national territory, with differences observed between states, macro-regions, municipalities, and census districts. In the study, the authors demonstrated that the leprosy detection rate increased in the municipality during the study period, and that the region with the highest occurrence of the disease was characterized by high vulnerability and social inequality.
The study results contribute to the planning and implementation of strategic health surveillance actions for the control of leprosy in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto, SP, especially in the region with the highest incidence of the disease. Furthermore, the author emphasizes that monitoring actions and public policies focused on epidemiological investigations in the territory can identify areas of higher incidence and vulnerability to leprosy, particularly in areas of low endemicity that may have low detection rates.
Leprosy is curable. However, because treatment is lengthy (ranging from six to twelve months) and there is still some abandonment of the protocol, the development of multidrug-resistant cases is observed. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the “Global Leprosy Strategy 2021/2030 – Towards Zero Leprosy” and seeks its implementation, aiming to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, based on the following pillars: expansion of prevention and detection measures, treatment, and interruption/elimination of the disease in endemic countries.
To overcome these challenges, it is necessary to reinforce investments in public health and the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) as a means of guaranteeing surveillance actions for the control and elimination of the disease. As the study shows, spatial and temporal analytical methods are powerful tools for indicating priority locations for guiding and focusing the main leprosy control actions.