India, Nov. 2 -- The Maharashtra government has declared leprosy a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all healthcare providers to report every diagnosed case within two weeks to district health authorities and municipal health offices. "The move aims to strengthen surveillance, ensure early detection and prevent disabilities caused by delayed treatment," said an official from the state health department.

As per the new directive, doctors, pathologists, and health institutions, both public and private, must maintain case records and ensure timely administration of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to close contacts of patients. "Early diagnosis and completion of treatment remain critical to cutting transmission and reducing Grade 2...