Morocco to eradicate leprosy by 2010

Morocco has made great strides in the fight against Leprosy, which is expected to be totally eradicated in the North African country by the year 2010.

With 83 cases registered in 1997, including 3 children, leprosy --known as a "social disease"-- still exists in Morocco, especially in the isolated mountain areas, where there is no drinking water, healthy housing and sanitation infrastructure, officials from the National Program of Struggle against Leprosy (PNLL) said.

The rare cases reported in urban areas are mainly those of people who migrated from the countryside to the cities, the PNLL officials told the press.

They noted that the disease can automatically disappear if living conditions are improved in the endemic areas.

Some 20,000 persons undergo tests annually in the National Center of Studies on Leprosy.

The PNLL officials said that Morocco managed to make considerable progress in the fight against the disease thanks to on-spot investigations, free treatment of patients and the contribution of non-governmental organizations.

According to PNLL statistics some 2,600 cases were reported between 1980 and 1997. The number of cases has fallen under 100 since 1995. Men are more vulnerable to the disease than women.