Abstract
The leprosy epidemiological study in Okinawa was carried out with the historical change of leprosy control policy which was in operation by administrative measure of the Government, In Japan segregation policy for leprosy patients came into force in 1909 and five leprosaria were established to isolate the patients, according to the Leprosy Prevention Law which was carried into effect in 1907.
In Okinawa the Government had a plan to have two leprosaria but the Government did not succeed in establishment of leprosaria, because of opposition by the public. Finally Okinawa Airakuen Leprosarium was established in 1935 but during the time the number of leprosy patients in the communities has increased to about 1, 000, Hansen's Disease Prevention Law was put in force in 1961 by the Ryukyu Government and leprosy control policy was changed. In 1962 leprosy out-patient treatment started by Okinawa Anti-leprosy Association, Since then early treatment, early diagnosis and active contact tracing program have been performed under new policy and many patients in the community have been controlled by out-patient departments. In 1962 the incidence rate of leprosy was 0.078‰, in 1967 the rate increased to 0.180‰, and then in 1974 the rate decreased to 0.069‰. Recently the improvement of leprosy epidemiological status in Okinawa has been observed.
