Leprosy cases rise in Florida, with most infections linked to local exposure

Florida health officials have recorded 17 cases of leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, through July 18, 2025. The state accounts for 36 of the 174 cases reported nationwide this year, with 27 believed to have been contracted locally rather than abroad.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the United States sees about 225 leprosy cases annually, most of which are imported. However, southern states, including Florida, have documented infections without travel history that are likely linked to contact with nine-banded armadillos, which naturally carry the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.

Research published in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal in 2023 highlighted that central Florida, particularly Brevard County, has become a hotspot, representing 81% of the state’s cases and roughly 20% of national reports. The study suggested that the disease may be becoming endemic in certain U.S. regions, citing cases among residents without traditional risk factors such as travel to endemic countries.

Leprosy is treatable with standard antibiotic regimens, and patients are no longer contagious after a short course of therapy. While the disease can cause skin lesions, nerve damage, and other complications if left untreated, the overall risk to the general public remains low.

Public health guidance advises avoiding direct contact with armadillos and using protective gloves when handling soil that may be contaminated. Scientists continue to examine environmental factors, including climate-driven expansion of armadillo habitats, as possible contributors to the observed increase in locally acquired cases.