Leprosy - Notifying a case of leprosy

Leprosy became a notifiable disease in England & Wales in 1951. A register of all leprosy cases is held at the Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections. The notification process is summarised below:

1. Case of leprosy seen by doctor
2. Doctor reports case to local Proper Officer (usually Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, CCDC, at local Health Protection Unit, HPU)
3. Proper Officer reports case (by phone or post) to Tuberculosis Section, in the Respiratory Diseases Department, HPA Centre for Infections (CfI)
4. TB section sends questionnaire to Proper Officer to arrange completion by appropriate person (usually clinician), who returns the form to the TB section to be entered onto the Leprosy Register.  The questionnaire may also be downloaded here:  Questionnaire for New Leprosy Cases (PDF, 45 KB)

Last reviewed: 18 February 2010