The Centers for Disease Control has published a new report for the State of Florida after a rise in cases of leprosy.
Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by the acid-fast rod Mycobacterium leprae. While the disease is “historically uncommon” in the United States, cases more than doubled in the southeastern states over the last decade.
“Leprosy is an infection caused by a bacterial that primarily infects the skin and peripheral nerves of individuals,”Dr. Jimmy Dourado with HCA Florida Memorial Hospital said.
According to a case report by the CDC for Aug. 2023, Central Florida accounted for 81% of cases reported in Florida and almost one-fifth of nationally reported cases.
According to Florida’s disease surveillance, there have been local cases of Leprosy this year. One confirmed case each in Bradford, Flagler and Volusia counties,
“Travel to this area, even in the absence of other risk factors, should prompt consideration of leprosy in the appropriate clinical context,” the CDC said.
Dourado said if someone is infected it could be transmitted through coughing near a non-infected person. However, there is also an animal that could lead to infection.
“There’s also been historical and recent understanding that animal armadillo, armadillos also carry this,” Dourado said.
The good news is that there is a cure but if you contract this disease, it could last weeks, months, or years.
There were 159 new cases of leprosy in the US in 2020, according to the report.
Click here to read the full case report.