Florida reports 36 leprosy cases in 2025, many linked to local transmission

The Florida Health Department confirmed 36 cases of leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, in 2025, up from 17 cases reported earlier this year. Health officials said 27 of the 2025 cases were likely acquired within the United States, with a concentration of patients in Central Florida.

Leprosy is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, which can take years to produce skin lesions, nerve damage, or eye problems if untreated. While the disease has become rare in most of the world due to antibiotics and improved sanitation, the United States still records about 200 cases annually, many linked to travel abroad. Recent data suggest the bacterium may have re-established a foothold in parts of the southeastern United States, including Florida.

Researchers note that nine-banded armadillos, which are native to the region, can harbor the bacteria and may serve as a source of zoonotic transmission. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention characterizes the risk of infection from armadillos as very low.

"This isn’t a problem of high incidents," Florida surgeon general Joseph Ladopo told reporters, according to a local news outlet.

Some Florida cases have no identified source of exposure, prompting investigation into alternative transmission routes such as contact with contaminated soil. Public health officials continue to monitor the situation, emphasizing that leprosy remains uncommon and that most of the population is naturally resistant to infection.