Florida has become known for a lot of shocking conditions and politics, but this one may be the most shocking. Besides malaria, leprosy is making a comeback in the "sunshine state". Hansen's disease attacks the peripherial nervous system and skin causing sometimes hideous deformations. It has been largely uncommon in the United States since the 1980s, but eight cases have been reported in central Florida this year. The number of cases has doubled in the last decade indicating it may have become endemic in the region. 81% of 263 cases in the past twenty years originated in central Florida. Nine banded armadillos
(Dasypus novemcinctus) have been identified as a possible source of the disease in humans, since they are naturally infected with the bacteria
Mycobacterium leprae. [photo credit: Katerina Kon]
The good news is that 95% of people are naturally resistant to the disease since there seems to be a genetic predisposition to infection. The disease is transmitted in humans by prolonged contact or through aerosols. Symptoms take a long time to appear and the infection grows slowly. Casual contact with an infected person such as hand shaking is usually not sufficient to transmit the disease. Leprosy, if treated early, is treatable with a combination of antibiotics taken over one to two years.
