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Leprosy, considered by many a frightening disease from biblical times, still exists today, especially in Central Florida which accounts for 81% of cases reported in the state and almost one fifth ...
Florida recorded three cases of leprosy in 2024, through March 26, out of a population of nearly 23 million people, according to U.S. Census data — one leprosy case each in Polk, Sumter and ...
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The report highlights a case of leprosy in a 54-year-old Florida man who reported that he had no known contact with an infected person, no exposure to armadillos (a known animal reservoir for the ...
The nine-banded armadillo has been rapidly expanding its range both north and east within the United States, where it is the only regularly occurring species of armadillo. The armadillo crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico in the late 19th century, and was introduced in Florida at about the same time by humans.
(The leprosy bacterium is difficult to culture and armadillos have a body temperature of 34 °C (93 °F), similar to human skin.) [26] Humans can acquire a leprosy infection from armadillos by handling them or consuming armadillo meat. [27] [28] Armadillos are a presumed vector and natural reservoir for the disease in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
Mycobacterium leprae DNA was detected in soil from houses of leprosy patients in Bangladesh, armadillos' holes in Suriname and habitats of lepromatous red squirrels in the British Isles. [36] One study found numerous reports of leprosy cases with a history of contact with armadillos in the United States. [34]
The region accounted for 81% of cases in Florida and nearly 1 out of 5 leprosy cases nationwide. ... Central Florida reported among the highest rates of leprosy in the United States. The region ...