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The Epidemiological Study on Leprosy in the Ryukyu Island

1975; Volume: 44; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5025/hansen1930.44.3_150

2185-1352

K Saikawa,

Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology

The leprosy epidemiological status on four areas in the Ryukyu Island, mainland Okinawa, Okinawa Islands Miyako Archipelago and Yaeyama Archipelago is analyzed by Leprosy Prevalence Rate (P.R.), Incidence Rate (I.R.), Lepromatous Incidence Rate (L.I.R.), Lepromatous Ratio (L.Ratio) and Percentage of Onset Age which were collected from 1931 to 1974. The assessment on the data shows that the different epidemiological situation is observed in four areas. The average P.R. and I.R. in the Island is 1.81o/oo and 2.28.o/oo. The P.R., I.R. and L. Ratio of Irabu Village in Miyako Archipelago, the highest leprosy endemic village, in 1974 were 10.10o/oo, 2.0o/oo and 0.44o/o. On the contrary these rates in Ginowan City of the central part of mainland Okinawa were 0.38o/oo, 0.01 o/oo and 0o/o. Generally the decline of leprosy occurence is observed in three areas except Miyako Archipelago at the present time. Especially the epidemio- logical situation in Nakazato village in Okinawa Island has been improved very much since 1966, i.e. it's I.R. was 0.84o/oo and L.I.R. 0.44o/oo in 1950 but I.R. was 0.27o/oo and L.I.R. 0.05o/oo in 1974. The highest leprosy endemic area in the Island is Miyako Archipelago where P.R. is 6.47o/oo, I.R. 0.45o/oo, L.I.R. 0.18o/oo and L.Ratio 40% in 1975. Leprosy disease in Miyako Archipelago is one of the most important problems and its control program should be done on the level of public health services.