If everything you know about leprosy came from the Bible you're not alone, but the ancient disease is having a resurgence. Cases of leprosy are on the rise in Florida, with 17 current cases and a record 36 cases reported last year.
Two new leprosy cases were reported in Brevard County, bringing Florida's statewide tally to 19 cases this year. The latest victims are between 70-74 and 80-84 years old, raising concerns about who is at risk and how the disease spreads.
Florida has become a focal point for leprosy in recent years, with the nine-banded armadillo being a likely source of infection. Per FloridaToday, "Last year, when Florida accounted for more than 20% of all U.S. leprosy diagnoses, there were 20 cases reported by this time. The state ultimately recorded 36 cases in 2025, up from 20 in 2024."
Leprosy is easily curable with antibiotics, but if left untreated, it can lead to severe complications like nerve damage and paralysis. In some cases, it may take up to 20 years after contact with the bacteria that causes the disease for symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of Hansen's disease include numb patches, loss of sensation, and weakness, which can be easily overlooked and should prompt a visit to a healthcare provider.
The takeaway: Don't handle armadillos. And be careful about gardening without gloves in areas with armadillos because handling, touching, or consuming nine-banded armadillos can expose individuals to Mycobacterium leprae, but so can working in garden soil or yards contaminated by armadillo burrows or droppings.
Health officials believe the increase in cases in Florida may be tied to the rise of nine-banded armadillos.
Per The Hill, leprosy not easily transmittable between humans, and "a person would have to be in close, prolonged contact with an infected person and have direct contact with their saliva or mucus from their mouth or nose. Even then, the CDC says, around 95% of people have natural immunity to it."
Leprosy is considered rare in the U.S., with about 225 people diagnosed every year. Worldwide, there are about 250,000 cases, and most Americans catch the disease while traveling abroad.
