ILEP organisations should strive for high BCG coverage in communities at risk of leprosy

• Published in: Leprosy review Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 88 - 101
• Main Authors: VELEMA, Johan P, OGBEIWI, Osahon I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester LEPRA 01.06.2007; British Leprosy Relief Association
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; BCG Vaccine - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Dermatology; Developing Countries; General aspects; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunization Schedule; Incidence; Infectious diseases; Leprosy; Leprosy - prevention & control; Medical sciences; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Religious Missions - organization & administration; Tropical bacterial diseases; Infection; Skin disease; Dermatology; BCG; Risk factor; Bacteriosis; Leprosy; Tropical medicine; Risk; Coverage; Mycobacterial infection; Community

The central thesis of this paper is that the EPI policy of a BCG vaccination at birth or in the first year of life provides proven partial protection against leprosy and that ILEP organisations should actively encourage government health services to maintain a high coverage. A literature review iden...