The International Textbook of Leprosy is dedicated to the physicians and health workers caring for their first patient with leprosy, and to all of those in the research community who have encountered some of the fascinating scientific aspects of leprosy and wish to learn more. Read online at: http:/.../www.internationaltextbookofleprosy.org/ more

The World Health Organization recently redefined leprosy elimination as a phased process, with the first milestone being the interruption of transmission, achieved when no new child cases (defined as younger than 15 years) are reported for five consecutive years. In Pakistan, the well-functioning ...leprosy programme, with effective case management, context-specific active case-finding strategies and a robust data management system, has contributed to a decrease in new cases. Between 2001 and 2023, new adult cases dropped by 75% (from 878 cases to 220 cases annually) and child cases by 83% (from 93 to 16). To support the country’s goal of no new child cases by 2030 and ultimately eliminate the disease, the nongovernmental organizations Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre and Aid to Leprosy Patients, with support from the German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association, have developed a zero leprosy roadmap. As part of this roadmap, the leprosy elimination strategy emphasizes improving active case-finding and providing post-exposure prophylaxis for contacts of leprosy cases, who are at the highest risk more

In case of resistance to rifampicin, fluoroquinolones become the preferred category of second-line drugs. Unfortunately, quinolone-resistant strains of Mycobacterium leprae have also been reported in several countries, probably due to the extensive use of quinolones for treating several types of inf...ections. Clofazimine resistance is still rare but this antimicrobial cannot be given alone more