Florida records highest number of Hansen's disease cases in 2025, with 17 additional cases reported in 2026

The Florida Department of Health reported 36 cases of Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy, in 2025, surpassing the previous peak of 29 cases in 2015. Of those patients, 27 were believed to have contracted the infection within the state, one elsewhere in the United States and three abroad; the source remained unknown for five cases. Preliminary data show an additional 17 cases have been identified across the state as of mid-July 2026.

The 2026 cases involve residents of Brevard, Charlotte, Duval, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter and Volusia counties. State officials assign cases to the county of residence at the time of diagnosis, regardless of where exposure occurred.

Historical records indicate that Hansen’s disease remains uncommon in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, with only a handful of cases reported between 2015 and 2024. Central Florida, particularly Brevard County, has consistently reported a larger share of cases; Brevard accounted for 20 of the 27 cases in 2020 and recorded double-digit totals in several recent years.

Health authorities note that nine-banded armadillos can carry the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, though infected armadillos are considered an uncommon source of transmission. Researchers are also studying the potential for the bacteria to survive temporarily in soil.

Hansen’s disease is a slow-growing bacterial infection that can affect skin, nerves, eyes and the nasal lining. Symptoms may include discolored skin patches, loss of sensation, thickened skin, painless ulcers, muscle weakness, enlarged nerves and eye problems. The disease does not spread easily; about 95% of people have natural immunity, and person-to-person transmission requires prolonged close contact with an untreated patient.

Treatment consists of a multi-drug antibiotic regimen lasting one to two years, and early therapy can prevent permanent nerve damage. The department’s live reportable-disease database is preliminary, and case totals may be adjusted as investigations continue.