The primary objective of thie study is to analyse the data over a 5-year follow-up period to compare the incidence of leprosy in the three cohorts, and to perform in-depth statistical analysis taking cluster effects into account.
Leprosy incidence, clustering and risk factors: Evidence from 5-year follow-up trial Maltalep and Ideal study in Bangladesh.
Project coordination
Project summary
Leprosy remains a public health problem in many countries. Leprosy occurs frequently among close contacts of affected persons. The pre-dominant mode of transmission of M. leprae is through the air (inhalation). The Maltalep trial in Bangladesh assessed the extent to which single dose rifampicin (SDR) suppresses excess leprosy cases among contacts in the year after BCG vaccination. At two years follow-up, there was no convincing effect of SDR. In this study the researchers aim to assess the results of the trial at 5 years follow-up. The proportions of new leprosy cases will be compared between two intervention arms (BCG vaccine with and without SDR) and in this study also include the 5-year follow-up of a non-intervention cohort that was followed simultaneously with the Maltalep trial. The results may inform the development of improved policies towards the elimination of leprosy in Bangladesh and countries with similar settings.
Co-financer: Turing Foundation