Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, was once considered a highly contagious disease. It’s an infection caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy can affect the nerves, skin, eyes and the lining of the nose. If left untreated, the nerve damage caused by the disease can result in crippling of the hands and feet, paralysis and blindness.
Medical treatment for leprosy is now available and it is no longer considered a widespread, highly contagious disease. However, doctors believe that a recent series of leprosy outbreaks are linked to a certain animal. They are warning the public not to make contact with the animal if they come across one. Depending on where you live, following the doctors’ orders might be pretty easy for you. The animal they’re warning you to stay away from is an armadillo.
Armadillos Linked To Leprosy Outbreak
Around 200 cases of leprosy are reported in the United States each year. This year, one state in particular has seen a spike in outbreaks. Florida usually reports about 10 cases per year. So far, nine cases have been reported since the beginning of 2017.
Armadillos have been known to carry the disease, and armadillo sightings in Florida have been on the rise, leading some doctors to warn the public not to go near the animals. But not all doctors are on board. Dr. Richard Truman is the chief of the National Hansen’s Disease Program’s laboratory research branch. He’s not sure that the nine cases in Florida could have all come from armadillos.
Dr. Truman believes that the public should exercise caution when coming in contact with an armadillo, but he says there is no need to panic. “Between Texas and Louisiana and the southern United States, many millions of people have direct or indirect exposure to armadillos every day,” he said.
The majority of the 150-200 new cases each year come from people who have traveled to countries with higher leprosy rates. Still, if you live in an area where armadillos are common, keep a safe distance to avoid contracting the disease.
Watch the video below for more information:
Sources:
America Now
NPR
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CNN
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