Fluctuating Annual New Leprosy Case Detection and Suboptimal Contact Tracing in Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu, India, 2017–2022: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: In the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu State, Annual new case detection rate (ANCDR remained static and has been above State or National levels since 2011. OBJECTIVES: In the absence of district-specific analysis for action, we described the distribution of ANCDR by time, place, and person during 2017-2022. Materials and Methods: Data extracted on age, gender, community, type of leprosy, deformity, and mode of detection of new cases from program registers for fiscal years 2017-2022. ANCDR calculated and computed by type of leprosy, grade 2 deformity (per million), and mode of detection. RESULTS: During 2017-2022, new 842 cases reported. ANCDR ranged from 7.6 (2017-2018) to 5.5 (2021-2022) and was more in three border sub-districts, rural areas, among tribal population, males and those aged 16-60 years. Multibacillary leprosy was more among rural population, males and 16-60 years age group, whereas, paucibacillary was more in urban, females and