Background/Purpose
The purpose of the research was to record the contributions of the USDHHS Hansen's disease (HD) Program's contribution to worldwide disease eradication (1950-2010). HD is a chronic bacterial disease affecting the skin, nerves, and respiratory systems, though not highly contagious. This USDHHS HD research center is a world renowned medical, treatment, and rehabilitation center and needs documentation.
Method Garraghan's historical methods (non-experimental) analyzed archival data and resources from libraries, personal interviews, and the Carville Museum on a 15 point scale. Resources were validated (3 sources), rank ordered, and scored on a code sheet (instrument). 80 Resources scoring >10 were included. The HD drug treatments, therapies, and the Health Belief Model for patients were chronicled.
Analysis/Results The first drug discovered here for HD was Promine (1950) but was drug resistant. The current multi-drug therapy (MDT) treatment of Dapsone, Rifampicin, Clofazimine or Ethionamide was founded in the 1970's. Early diagnosis and MDT medication now cures diagnosed HD patients. The results are the center's medical research contributions for an HD cure and massive prevalence reduction worldwide. Global eradication continues but has not occurred. Global registered HD prevalence reduction from 1985 was 5,000,000 (global surveillance began) compared to 2009 at 213, 036. Some endemic countries reached elimination in 2009 (registered prevalence rate of <1 case/10,000 population).
Conclusions Global eradication continues for HD. Free HD medical treatment worldwide is offered by the WHO for eradication, but access is still a challenge in endemic countries. The USDHHS Hansen's Disease Program is now researching an HD vaccination.