UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India struggles to curb leprosy transmission

Q1. With reference to leprosy control, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A country can remain below the leprosy elimination threshold while new infections continue to occur within it.
  2. Attaining elimination of leprosy as a public health problem means that the disease has been eradicated within that country.
  3. Once the elimination threshold is reached, active case detection ceases to be a priority under the WHO global leprosy strategy.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. New leprosy cases among children are treated as a sensitive indicator of ongoing transmission in a community.
  2. Because leprosy has a long incubation period, disease in a young child implies relatively recent exposure to an infectious source.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. In India's leprosy programme, a single dose of rifampicin is given to the household and neighbourhood contacts of a newly diagnosed patient. What is the main purpose of this measure?

  • A. To identify, by their response to the drug, which contacts already carry the bacterium
  • B. To shorten the index patient's own treatment by supplementing the standard drug regimen
  • C. To build lasting antibody-based immunity in contacts, as a childhood vaccine would
  • D. To lower the chance that already-infected contacts go on to develop the disease

Q4. Consider the following assertion: Social stigma against persons affected by leprosy hampers efforts to interrupt its transmission. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Fear of social exclusion can delay people from seeking diagnosis, prolonging the period during which an untreated case can infect close contacts.
  2. Reluctance to disclose a diagnosis to family and neighbours can hinder tracing of contacts who are meant to receive post-exposure prophylaxis.
  3. Leprosy spreads readily through casual contact, which makes segregation of patients medically necessary.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q5. Suppose a high-burden district shifts from waiting for patients to report to intensive house-to-house active case finding for leprosy. Consider the following likely consequences over the next few years: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The number of newly detected cases would be expected to fall immediately, because intensified searching itself stops transmission.
  2. The share of new cases presenting with Grade 2 disability at diagnosis would tend to decline as more cases are caught earlier.
  3. Hidden child cases brought to light may push back the date on which the district can be declared to have interrupted transmission.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. As defined by the World Health Assembly, 'elimination of leprosy as a public health problem' is measured by which of the following?

  • A. Annual new case detection rate below 1 per 10,000 population
  • B. Grade 2 disability rate below 1 per million population
  • C. No new child cases for at least five consecutive years
  • D. Prevalence rate below 1 per 10,000 population