Leprosy Cases Surge, Makes Florida a Hotspot - Report

By Rick Martin Aug 02 2023, 02:16 AM EDT

Leprosy, a disease often mentioned as a plague in the Bible, is making a massive surge in Central Florida. The CDC stated in a report that the area has an "endemic location" for the disease.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated in its report that the central area of Florida has seen a rise in cases, with the Sunshine State reporting the highest number of cases in the country. Around 81% of all cases from Florida come from Central Florida.

According to The Guardian, the number of those infected by leprosy has been falling in the US from 2019 to 2020. However, the CDC noted that this new increase in Florida represents a new cause for concern.

"Travel to this area, even in the absence of other risk factors, should prompt consideration of leprosy in the appropriate clinical context," the agency stated.

One case includes a 54-year-old Florida man who had not traveled domestically or internationally. He also did not have "prolonged contact with immigrants from leprosy-endemic countries" or was even exposed to armadillos which are known vectors for the disease.

However, the CDC pointed out that leprosy can spread by moisture droplets passed through the air, and the man who got infected worked in landscaping, which meant that he spends long periods of time outdoors" and this might have led him to the infection.

"The absence of traditional risk factors in many recent cases of leprosy in Florida, coupled with the high proportion of residents, like our patient, who spend a great deal of time outdoors, supports the investigation into environmental reservoirs as a potential source of transmission," said the CDC.

Florida Had 15 New Cases of Leprosy in 2023

There had been 159 new cases in the US in 2020, with Florida being one of the top-reporting states for the disease. Much like what is happening now, most of the reported cases came from Central Florida.

This year, 15 new cases have been reported in the state, the majority of which came from Brevard County. However, fret not as, unlike Biblical times, where lepers are just banished from society, the disease can be treated.

NBC News noted that patients are often made to take a combination of two or three antibiotics for one to two years to treat the disease.

What Is Leprosy?

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, has been around for millennia, often being mentioned in the Bible. It is caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium leprae, and it primarily affects the skin and the peripheral nerves.

According to Florida Health, leprosy was first reported in Florida in 1921. There are two kinds of leprosy, and they are paucibacillary (indeterminate, tuberculoid, and borderline tuberculoid) and multibacillary (mid borderline, borderline lepromatous, and lepromatous).

The bacteria usually attack the nerves and can cause swelling under the skin. It often looks like a rash with pigmented, scaly skin lesions. Some people also have disfiguring nodules on the face and hands. Often, these lesions are not itchy, which makes them different from a typical rash, as many patients usually do not feel anything.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Leprosy could become endemic in Florida as cases rise, CDC says - WFLA News Channel 8