A biblical disease is back with a vengeance in Florida — experts warn which animal is to blame - New York Post

What the report says

The New York Post reported that health experts are pointing to nine-banded armadillos as a possible factor in Florida’s rising number of Hansen’s disease cases, the illness historically known as leprosy. The animals are common across the southern United States and are natural carriers of Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes the disease. The Post said Florida has recorded 17 cases so far this year, following 26 last year, 20 in 2024, 23 in 2023 and eight in 2022.

According to the report, Central Florida has emerged as a particular area of concern. Citing WJXT4, the Post said 40 of 74 Florida cases reported from 2019 to 2022 were in Brevard County. The article noted that armadillos thrive in warm, wet environments and may expose people indirectly through contaminated soil around burrows, gardens or yards.

The Post quoted Juan Manuel Campos Krauer, an assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, as saying that places where armadillos eat, live and reproduce may affect human exposure because the bacteria can persist for a time in soil. The article also noted that some experts have raised concerns about contact with armadillo roadkill.

Hansen’s disease remains rare in the United States, with the Post citing at most 250 cases nationally each year. The disease develops slowly, can affect skin and nerves, and may cause lasting damage if untreated, but it is curable with antibiotics. The report said most U.S. infections are linked to countries where the disease is more common, and experts advise avoiding armadillos and wearing gloves when working in soil.