{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T05:58:47Z","timestamp":1790834327461,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]],"date-time":"2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1758240000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100004336","name":"Novartis","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100004336","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosntds.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS Negl Trop Dis"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The global goal for leprosy elimination is the interruption of <jats:italic>Mycobacterium leprae<\/jats:italic> transmission, resulting in zero new leprosy patients. In alignment with this objective, Tanzania\u2019s updated national leprosy strategy emphasizes early detection, systematic contact tracing, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with single-dose rifampicin (SDR), and integration of services into primary health care. However, the feasibility of accelerating <jats:italic>M. leprae<\/jats:italic> transmission interruption in high-burden areas with this strategy has yet to be demonstrated. In 2024, the Morogoro Leprosy Elimination Program (MoLEP) was launched in the country\u2019s most endemic region. Developed through a collaborative process, MoLEP aligns global practices with local conditions and needs. Key interventions include training frontline health workers and expanding contact tracing with SDR-PEP. Furthermore, targeted activities will respond to high transmission areas and the detection of child cases, which serve as indicators of recent transmission. Strengthening the drug supply chain is also a priority. MoLEP will generate critical data on the feasibility and effectiveness of these interventions in accelerating progress toward elimination. The implementation is guided by a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, alongside clearly defined governance structures, to facilitate evidence-informed decision-making. Findings are expected to guide strategic scaling and replication in other high-burden regions across Tanzania and beyond.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0013507","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]],"date-time":"2025-09-19T21:33:17Z","timestamp":1758317597000},"page":"e0013507","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pntd.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["MoLEP\u2014Co-creating a Mycobacterium leprae transmission interruption program for the Morogoro region, Tanzania"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4453-5950","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Tanja","family":"Barth-Jaeggi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guy","family":"de Coulon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Issa","family":"Garimo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"John","family":"Msaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liberate","family":"Mleoh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Riziki","family":"Kisonga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sunil","family":"Modali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shaishav","family":"Panchal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shigela Marco","family":"Njebele","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shamez","family":"Sunderji","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kihulya","family":"Mageda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Steinmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"pntd.0013507.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"292","DOI":"10.47276\/lr.83.3.292","article-title":"Patient-related factors predicting the effectiveness of rifampicin chemoprophylaxis in contacts: 6 year follow up of the COLEP cohort in Bangladesh","volume":"83","author":"SG Feenstra","year":"2012","journal-title":"Lepr Rev"},{"issue":"1","key":"pntd.0013507.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(20)30396-X","article-title":"Leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin (LPEP): an international feasibility programme","volume":"9","author":"JH Richardus","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"key":"pntd.0013507.ref003","unstructured":"WHO. 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