[Epidemiology of Hansen's disease in Israel]

There are currently 200 patients with Hansen's disease in Israel who are being followed by the Hansen's Disease Government Hospital and the Ministry of Health (prevalence 4.4/100,000). Most of them immigrated from countries where the disease is endemic. Dermatological findings dominated the initial clinical picture, although 5% of patients are asymptomatic contacts of known cases. Age at onset of disease was less than 20 years in 1/4 of the cases. The incidence in Israel is falling: 0.4/100,000 in 1985-89 compared to 3.6/100,000 in 1950-54. Neurologic and dermatologic findings in an immigrant of any age originating from countries where Hansen's disease is endemic, should prompt appropriate diagnostic evaluation, even years after immigration to Israel. Contacts of known cases of Hansen's disease should be aggressively screened, even if asymptomatic.