[Leprosy in the French Polynesian archipelagoes from 1967 to 1987]

Between 1967 and 1987, 255 new cases of leprosy were detected in French Polynesia (FP) that means on average a 8.6% detection rate. Average detection rate calculated in 7 three-year periods did not vary significantly during the 21 years studied period of time. In two remote archipelagoes of FP average detection rate of leprosy is specially high: Gambier archipelago and Southern Marquesas archipelago with respectively a 54.7 and a 48.9% detection rate. To control leprosy, the network of treatment and active case-finding should be strengthened in archipelagoes and chemoprophylaxis programmes could be planned in places where the problem is especially important.