Abstract: Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and regularities of the new lepers from 2000 to 2021 in Gansu Province, and to provide the reference for leprosy prevention and control strategies. Methods: Descriptive analysis of the data of the new patients of leprosy in Gansu Province reported in the Leprosy Management Information System in China from 2000 to 2021. Results: The annual detection rate of the new lepers in Gansu Province from 0.056/10⁵ to 0.006/10⁵ from 2000 to 2021. The annual prevalence decreased from 0.17/10⁵ to 0.06/10⁵.  A total of 133 new lepers were reported, including 87 males and 46 females, and there were 8 recurrent lepers and 4 children lepers. There were 42 cases of grade 2 deformity (grade 2 deformity rate was 31.6%), and the average delay period was 47.7 months. Early detection accounted for 12.78%, the main methods of detection were self-report and disease reporting (80 cases, accounting for 60%), 6.02% were found through contact inspection, the cases with the source of infection from home accounted for 31.58%, and the cases with unknown source of infection accounted for 64.66%. The average age of new lepers was (40.65±13.84). The new cases were all local cases. Eight of the 14 cities and states in the province reported new cases, were distributed in 31 counties. The number of lepers reported in Longnan City accounted for 60% and in Pingliang, Qingyang and Gannan cities accounted for 28.6% of the total in Gansu Province, and the cases were mainly sporadic cases. Conclusion: The number of new lepers reported in Gansu Province shows a slow downward trend. The average delay period of diagnosis of new lepers is long, and the ratio of grade 2 deformity and disability is high. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control work.

Key words: leprosy, new cases, epidemiological characteristics