Epidemiology of Leprosy in China, 2022–2023: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Leprosy prevention and treatment is a significant global public health and social challenge. Southwest China remains a high-burden area for leprosy. Analyzing the epidemic characteristics of different regions is crucial for tailoring effective prevention and control measures. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of leprosy in China from 2022 to 2023, providing essential data to inform future prevention and control strategies. Methods: Data were extracted from the Leprosy Management Information System in China, encompassing 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities from 2022 to 2023, and data from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region, and the Taiwan region were not available in the system and thus were not included in this analysis. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics, including sex, age, geographic distribution, and disability grade. Results: In total, 617 new leprosy cases were identified nationwide in 2022 and 2023, corresponding to a detection rate of 0.22 per million population. Among these, 380 cases (61.6%) involved male individuals, 588 cases (95.3%) were classified as multibacillary, 136 cases (22.0%) affected individuals with grade 2 disability, 114 cases (18.5%) involved migrant individuals, and 5 cases (0.8%) occurred in children under 15 years of age. In both years, 57.7% of new detected cases (356/617) were concentrated in Southwest China. Across the 2-year period, 47 relapse cases were reported. The registered prevalence was 1.279 per million population at the end of 2022, based on 1,806 cases. By the end of 2023, this number declined to 1.201 per million, based on 1,693 cases. Conclusion: Although the overall prevalence of leprosy in China is low, the disease continues to be geographically widespread and unevenly distributed. Southwest China remains a key region for targeted control efforts.