Leprosy Mailing List – May 20, 2026
Ref.: (LML) Infolep monthly overview of new publications on leprosy. ASpril, 2026.
From: Elizabeth Talatu Williams, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
____________________________________________________________________________
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to share the April 2026 edition of the Infolep Newsletter, featuring recent publications, case reports, and global updates from the leprosy field.
This month’s featured articles focus on key developments in disability, mental health, digital innovation, and patient engagement. Topics covered include new research on how the relationship between disability, stigma, and mental health impacts persons affected by leprosy, the WHO Skin NTDs App enhanced with artificial intelligence, and studies on clinical trial inclusion, contact management, and the economic burden of Hansen’s disease.
The case reports in this issue reflect the ongoing diagnostic and clinical challenges in leprosy, including atypical presentations, co-infections, chronic ulcers, and long-term complications, underlining the importance of early diagnosis, appropriate management, and long-term follow-up.
We also feature new publications on chemoprophylaxis, antimicrobial resistance, neuropathy, health-seeking behaviour, mental health, and surveillance, alongside the latest news on policy developments, legal reforms, and global NTD initiatives.
This edition also includes information on upcoming events, including the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly and the World Health Assembly Side Event on implementation of the WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases in Geneva.
We hope this edition provides useful insights and supports your continued work in advancing leprosy research, care, and inclusion.
Warm regards,
Elizabeth Talatu Williams
www.leprosy-information.org
info@infolep.org
Featured Research Spotlight
The World Health Organization Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases App: A dynamic capacity building training tool enhanced with artificial intelligence
Pons J, Romero-Lopez A, Muñoz I, et al. The Journal of investigative dermatology. 2026.
Pattern of Disability and its Relationship with Disease Related Physical Involvement, Stigma, and Mental Health Status among People Living with Leprosy
Sharma P, Bhandari AR, Singh S, et al. Nepal Journal of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology. Nepal Journals Online (JOL). 2026; 24 (1): 4 - 10.
Involvement of African patient populations in clinical trials on leprosy: a scoping review
Haarmann M, Ansah R, Meneguim A, et al. Tropical medicine and health. 2026; 54 (1): 1 - 19.
Engagement strategies for people living with leprosy: a scoping review of studies published from 1992 to 2024
de Souza L, Perin J, Drumond M, et al. Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique. 2026; 84 (1): 1 - 20.
Implementation of ML Flow for leprosy contacts in Brazil: Opportunities, pitfalls, and safeguards
Talhari C, Farias C, Miot H, et al. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2026; 20 (4): 1 - 8.
Economic cost of Hansen's disease: an overview of social security expenditures
Castro J, Lima F, Frade M, et al. Frontiers in public health. 2026.
Other New Publications
Feel free to contact us to receive full-text versions if these cannot be found through the Infolep portal.
Factors affecting the health-seeking behaviour of leprosy patients in a tertiary referral hospital in the Philippines
Miralpes Ebisawa N, San Juan J, Go Baluyot KR, et al. Leprosy Review. Lepra. 2026; 97 (2): 1 - 10.
Effectiveness of Rifampicin Chemoprophylaxis in Preventing Leprosy in Close Contacts: A Systematic Review
Franatha Sembiring R, Donarta Tarigan C. International Journal of Health and Pharmaceutical (IJHP). International Journal of Educational Research & Social Sciences (IJERSC). 2026; 6 (1): 513-522.
Peripheral Nerve Ultrasound Findings in Leprosy: A Scoping Review of Echogenicity, Cross-Sectional Area, and Vascularization Across 15 Studies
Gunawan H, Khairuddin R, Hidayah R, et al. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. 2026.
Factors associated with incomplete treatment among leprosy patients in Sabah, Malaysia, between 2012 and 2016
Ab Aziz MZ, Wan Mohammad WMZ, Gantul VJ, et al. Leprosy Review. Lepra. 2026; 97 (2): 1 - 11.
Mapping Child Leprosy Cases and its Factors Associated in Indonesia Using Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression Model
Darnah D, Suyitno S, Nor Hayati M, et al. Elsevier BV. 2026; 56 (5): 1654 - 1667.
Need for rethinking on chemoprophylaxis strategies for leprosy control
Kumar B, Singh S, Narang T, et al. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. Scientific Scholar. 2026.
Functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in CACNA2D3 and other autophagy-related genes are associated with leprosy among Brazilians
Espasandin I, Cardoso CC, Leal-Calvo T, et al. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Public Library of Science (PLoS). 2026; 20 (4): 1 - 22.
Sensitivity of immunohistochemistry in the laboratory diagnosis of leprosy: a systematic review protocol
Neto M, de Lima M, da Silva C, et al. BMJ open. 2026; 16 (4): 1 - 6.
Cured but not healed: the mental health crisis in leprosy we continue to ignore.
Fastenau A, Asboeck A, Egbule D, et al. BMC global and public health. 2026; 4 (1): 1 - 3.
Structured digital health intervention for leprosy awareness: a case study of analyzing public engagement and sentiment in a Sri Lankan leprosy awareness campaign on Facebook
Wijesinghe M, Pathirana A, Karawita U, et al. BMC infectious diseases. 2026.
Diagnostic performance of peripheral nerve palpation compared with ultrasonography in leprosy neuropathy: A prospective real-world clinical evaluation
Mendes J, da Silva T, Cruz P, et al. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2026; 20 (4): 1 - 15.
Armadillo meat consumption and Hansen's disease (leprosy): a case-control study in Brazil.
Repsold T, Collin S, Amorim B, et al. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2026.
Single-Dose Rifampicin Prophylaxis for Leprosy Contacts: Aligning with Antimicrobial Stewardship Principles
Thangaraju P. Journal of Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices and Infectious diseases. Society of Antimicrobial Stewardship PractIces (SASPI). 2026; 4 (1): 06-08.
Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance in M. leprae Strains From Kiribati
Campbell P, Bauro T, Rimon E, et al. Tropical medicine & international health: TM & IH. 2026.
Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Leprosy: Evidence From an Endemic City in Northeastern Brazil
Ana Flávia Sobral de Medeiros, Aline Lidiane Batista, Sidnei Miyoshi Sakamoto, et al. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine. 2026.
The Influence of Health Services Factor on the Maintenance of Leprosy Elimination Status at Community Health Centers in Timor-Leste
Barreto J, Martins NE, Reis LD. Journal of World Science. Riviera Publishing. 2026; 5 (3): 339-345.
Case Reports
Lepromatous Leprosy Mimicking Sarcoidosis With Elevated Serum ACE Levels: A Deceptive Granulomatous Presentation
Prashanth G, T D. Cureus. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 2026; 18 (5): 1 - 7.
Dual Mycobacterial Infection with Tuberculosis and Leprosy: A Case Highlighting Diagnostic and Programmatic Challenges in Endemic Settings
Vaishnav B, Sanghani B, Kshitij, et al. National Journal of Community Medicine. Medsci Publications. 2026; 17 (04): 315-319.
Topical Insulin: A Game Changer for Non-Healing Leprosy Ulcers – A Case Series
Ratnaparkhi A, Fale P, Rahangdale V, et al. Nepal Journal of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology. Nepal Journals Online (JOL). 2026; 24 (1): 54-57.
IgA Dominant Infection-Related Glomerulonephritis due to Mycobacterium avium: A Case Report
Visch R, van Laarhoven A, Smits L, et al. Kidney Medicine. Elsevier BV. 2026.
The Uncommon Coexistence of Mid-Borderline Leprosy and Generalized Pustular Psoriasis
Gunawan H, Hidayah R, Dwiyana R, et al. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. 2026.
Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma complicating a chronic leprosy ulcer: Highlighting the need for long-term surveillance of ‘cured’ leprosy patients
Anand GR, Pragya P, Dixit S, et al. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. Scientific Scholar. 2026.
Latest News
Turning national commitment into real progress against leprosy [World Health Organization]
Why Nigeria May Not End Leprosy Without Tackling Poverty, Stigma — Expert [Nigeria Info]
Towards a stronger legal framework for ending neglected tropical diseases in Indonesia [World Health Organization]
Delhi To Make Leprosy A Notifiable Disease For Better Surveillance And Control [Healthandme]
Novel screening method boosts early diagnosis of leprosy [News Medical Life Sciences]
New leprosy treatment facility in BARMM now open [MSN]
Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award: Optimising interventions for impact [Wellcome Trust]
Call for public consultation – Survey on NTD control programmes using preventive chemotherapy [World Health Organization]
Supreme Court rules marriages can no longer be annulled due to leprosy [The Leprosy Mission]
NLR India Marks 27 Years, Urges Stronger Last-Mile Action Against Leprosy [Newkerala.com]
Malawi Hosts Africa’s meeting on Neglected Tropical Diseases #NTDs [World Health Organization Malawi]
Goa Moves to Remove Discriminatory Leprosy Provisions from Prison Rules [Prudent Media]
Upcoming Events
World Health Assembly Side Event 2026
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Theme: From Resolution to Action: Implementing the WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases
Join the World Health Assembly Side Event 2026 holding on 21 May 2026. This event brings together Member States, WHO representatives, and partners to strengthen awareness and align efforts around the implementation of WHA78.15 and the development of the Global Action Plan on Skin Diseases.
Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
The Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 18–23 May 2026.
Proceedings will be webcast live from the WHO web page. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Links
Info Hansen - An innovative hub for knowledge sharing about Hansen's Disease
ALLF - Official website of the Association des Léprologues de Langue Française
LML - Leprosy Mailing List - a free moderated email list that allows all persons interested in leprosy to share ideas, information, experiences and questions
InfoNTD - Information on cross-cutting issues in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
WHO Goodwill Ambassador's Leprosy Bulletin
Leprosy Review Repository (1928-2001)
Fontilles Revista de Leprología
HARP - Hansen's Disease Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles
GDPR & the Infolep newsletter
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