Florida Logs 17 Leprosy Cases as Armadillos Emerge in Rising Local Spread
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Jul 29
Florida Logs 17 Leprosy Cases as Armadillos Emerge in Rising Local Spread
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Jul 29
Summary
Florida recorded 17 leprosy infections by July 18, extending a slow rise in a disease that remains rare in the United States.
36 of 174 U.S. cases in 2025 were in Florida, and 27 were acquired locally rather than abroad, pointing to transmission inside the state.
Central Florida has been the main hotspot, accounting for 81% of state cases over recent years, with Brevard County reporting the largest share.
CDC-linked research says Southern cases not tied to travel were likely contracted from nine-banded armadillos, which naturally carry M. leprae; scientists are also examining possible environmental exposure such as contaminated soil.
U.S. cases fell for decades after a 1983 peak but began rising again around 2000, and a 2023 CDC journal report said leprosy may now be endemic in parts of the country.