Towards Zero Leprosy: Epidemiology and Prevention Strategy

Dear Colleagues,

Leprosy, one of the world's oldest and most stigmatized diseases, continues to persist in pockets of endemicity, particularly in countries with limited resources and infrastructure. Despite significant advances in the development of treatment and control measures, the burden of leprosy remains a significant public health concern, demanding renewed efforts and innovative strategies. In accord with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Zero Leprosy Strategy for 2021–2030, which provides a roadmap for achieving elimination and reducing the burden of the disease worldwide, this Special Issue of our journal aims to spotlight the multifaceted challenges associated with leprosy control, particularly in regions with high endemicity. By focusing on key areas such as epidemiology, prevention, and stigma reduction, this Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of leprosy as a public health problem and facilitate the implementation of targeted interventions. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a broad range of topics related to leprosy control and elimination efforts. From epidemiological studies mapping the distribution of the disease to evaluations of post-exposure prophylaxis using single-dose rifampicin, the Special Issue explores innovative approaches and best practices in leprosy prevention and treatment. Additionally, it delves into the social determinants of leprosy, including stigma and discrimination, highlighting the importance of addressing these factors in comprehensive control strategies.

In summary, this Special Issue offers you the unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of leprosy control strategies, with a focus on research concerning current trends and priorities in the field. We invite authors to submit their original contributions to enrich the discourse and propel progress towards a world free from the burden of leprosy.

Dr. Christa Kasang
Dr. Nimer Ortuño-Gutiérrez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.