India, Dec. 22 -- Maharashtra has already recorded 19,442 leprosy cases this year (April 1-December 12, 2025), nearly matching last year's total of 19,927, with more than four months remaining in the reporting period. The state health department conducts an annual leprosy screening drive, reporting cases recorded between April 1 and March 31. From April to November this year, a routine survey identified 13,324 cases, while a special statewide drive between November 17 and December 12 detected an additional 6,118 cases.

Maharashtra has reported high numbers of leprosy cases in recent years, with 19,927 cases reported in 2024-25, 20,001 in 2023-24, and 19,860 in 2022-23.

As part of its push to eliminate leprosy by 2027, the state declared...