Leprosy Appearing in Florida
An ancient disease is drawing renewed attention in the United States.
Florida has reported a recent increase in cases of leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease.
Leprosy is described in several biblical accounts. One of the best-known is the story of Naaman, a commander of the army of Aram who was afflicted with leprosy and sought healing from the prophet Elisha. Biblical references to “leprosy,” however, encompassed a range of skin conditions and should not be equated with Hansen’s disease.
Recent reports have placed cases primarily in Central Florida, and state health officials are monitoring a small but noticeable number of cases. Some infections have been associated with exposure to armadillos, which can carry the bacteria that causes Hansen’s disease. Florida has reported leprosy cases for more than a century.
The presence of armadillos has also attracted attention in neighboring areas. Sightings have been reported in Central and Upstate South Carolina, including Laurens County, as well as in the Asheville area.
According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, “The nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), native to Central and South America, was first recorded in Texas in 1849, but has since expanded its range, crossing the Mississippi River sometime in the early 1940s, appearing in western Tennessee in 1980 and reaching North Carolina in the late 2000s.”
The Wildlife Society reports, “… the nine-banded armadillo has been steadily expanding its range northward and eastward. Though their movement is constrained by temperature and precipitation, this rapid expansion has been fueled by changes in climate, land use, and at least one human-assisted release in Florida.”
Very Low Risk of Infection
Health experts emphasize that simply seeing an armadillo does not mean a person is at risk. Leprosy remains rare and is not easily transmitted. The disease is treatable with antibiotics, particularly when diagnosed early.
The bacteria that causes leprosy grows very slowly. It may take up to 20 years after contact with the bacteria to develop signs of the disease. The disease can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose. Untreated patients infected with the bacteria are believed to be the main source of infection.
Most of the human population, about 95%, is not susceptible to infection because their immune system can fight off the bacteria that causes it.
For western North Carolina residents, health officials say awareness is appropriate, but there is no indication of a leprosy outbreak in the region.
For more information about leprosy, please visit www.cdc.gov/leprosy/about.
