Leprosy Cases Rise in Florida Amid Concerns Over Armadillo Transmission

Florida health authorities have reported a growing number of leprosy cases, with 17 confirmed infections so far this year, adding to a trend of rising annual totals across the state. Researchers say the nine-banded armadillo, common in the southern United States, can harbor Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes Hansen's disease, and may transmit it to humans through contaminated soil.

The disease, which affects skin and nerves, develops slowly and can take up to two decades for symptoms to appear. While it remains rare in the United States—fewer than 250 cases are reported each year—Florida has recorded some of the highest numbers, including a cluster in Brevard County that accounted for more than half of state cases between 2019 and 2022.

"Where the armadillo eats, lives, and reproduces, everything could affect the chance of a human being exposed to leprosy. That's because the bacteria that causes leprosy can remain for a while in the soil," said Juan Manuel Campos Krauer, an assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that most U.S. infections are acquired abroad, but local transmission linked to armadillos has been documented. Experts advise avoiding direct contact with armadillos, wearing gloves when handling soil, and exercising caution around roadkill.

Leprosy is treatable with a course of antibiotics, and patients are no longer contagious after the first dose.