The World Health Organization says its ten-year campaign to removeleprosy as a world healt

The World Health Organization says its ten-year campaign to remove

leprosy as a world health problem has been successful. Doctor Brundtland,

head of the WHO, says a number of leprosy cases around the world bas 【M1】 ______

been cut of ninety percent during the past ten years. She says efforts are 【M2】 ______

continuing to complete end the disease. 【M3】 ______

Leprosy is caused by bacteria spread through liquid from the nose

and mouth. The disease mainly effects the skin and nerves. However, if 【M4】 ______

leprosy is not treated it can cause permanent damage for the skin, nerves, 【M5】 ______

eyes, arms or legs.

In 1999, an international campaign began to end leprosy. 7he WHO,

governments of countries most affected by the disease, and several other

groups are part of the campaign. This alliance guarantees that all leprosy

patients, even they are poor, have a right to the most modern treatment. 【M6】 ______

Doctor Brundtland says leprosy is no longer a disease that requires

life-long treatments by medical experts. Instead, patients can take that is 【M7】 ______

called a multi-drag therapy. This modem treatment will cure leprosy in 6

to 12 months, depend on the form. of the disease. The treatment combines 【M8】 ______

several drugs taken daily or once a month, The WHO has given multi-drug

therapy to patients freely for the last five years, qbe members of the alliance 【M9】 ______

against leprosy plan to target the countries which still threatened by leprosy. 【M10】______

Among the estimated 600,000 victims around the world, the WHO believes

about 70% are in India. The disease also remains a problem in Africa and

South America.

【M1】