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(NewsNation) — Cases of leprosy are on the rise in Florida, and health officials are linking many cases to exposure to a specific animal.
As of July 23, Florida’s Department of Health reported 17 cases statewide, with 81 percent in Central Florida, according to NewsNation affiliate WFLA. The heaviest concentration of cases has been reported in Volusia, Brevard, Lake, Orange and Seminole counties.
Last year, Florida had 36 cases, a record high since reporting began in 1992. At least 26 of those cases were contracted in Florida, one was contracted out of state, and two were contracted outside the country. Where the remaining seven cases were contracted is unknown.
What is leprosy?
Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by a very slow-growing bacterium called mycobacterium leprae. In some cases, it may take up to 20 years after contact for symptoms to appear.
Image of the bacteria that causes leprosy (Getty Images) Symptoms of leprosy include lesions, lumps, and ulcers on the skin, along with the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes. It can also affect the peripheral nerves, which link the brain and spinal cord to the skin, muscles, and internal organs. This can cause an infected person to lose their sense of touch and pain, meaning they are at an increased likelihood of suffering cuts and burns.
While leprosy was once believed to be highly contagious, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it’s not easily transmittable between humans. A person would have to be in close, prolonged contact with an infected person and have direct contact with their saliva or mucus from their mouth or nose.
Even then, the CDC says, around 95% of people have natural immunity to it.
Leprosy is considered rare in the U.S., with about 225 people diagnosed every year. Worldwide, there are about 250,000 cases, and most Americans catch the disease while traveling abroad.
So how are Floridians catching it?
Health officials say the rise in cases may be associated with nine-banded armadillos, which are naturally infected with mycobacterium leprae.
The armored mammals are common in Mexico and the southern U.S. and are prevalent in central and northern Florida. They are considered invasive pests, as they tear up lawns and damage landscapes through heavy foraging and creating burrows.
A Yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) at a burrow at Caiman Ranch in the Southern Pantanal in Brazil. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images) People can be exposed to the bacteria by touching or holding armadillos. They can also be exposed by touching the soil around their burrows or foraging holes, which can be contaminated with bacteria from armadillo droppings or bodily fluid.
Is leprosy treatable?
Leprosy can be cured if caught and treated early. A patient would have to go through multi-drug therapy consisting of a combination of antibiotics.
Once treatment begins, the patient is no longer considered infectious.
Depending on the type of leprosy, the CDC says it could take anywhere from one to two years to treat.
Steps for avoiding exposure
Some steps can be taken to help reduce one’s risk of exposure to the bacteria that causes leprosy. Here’s what the CDC recommends:
- Avoid touching or holding armadillos
- Do not hunt or eat armadillos
- Place repellents or traps in yards to limit risk of exposure
- Wear gloves and long sleeves when working in soil where they dig
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after working outdoors to remove bacteria from hands
- If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to neutralize the bacteria
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