Leprosy Cases Hit Florida Counties

[orangeblossom]

abcnews.go.com/Health/leprosy-cases-hit-florida-counties/story?id=29258128


Some people might think of leprosy as a scourge from biblical times, but it still afflicts victims -- and a Florida county is reporting a rare increase in cases, with three people diagnosed in just five months.



In the past decade, before the new cases, only one person in Volusia County, Florida, was diagnosed with the disease.



Health officials there said the recent increase in cases was unexpected, but because the incubation period ranges from nine months to 20 years, they did not think the three new cases signaled a wave of new infections.



Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium lepra. An infection mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes and part of the upper respiratory tract, according to the World Health Organization.



Leprosy cases remain rare in the United States, with approximately 80 people reporting infections each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.



Florida typically sees just eight to 10 cases per year. Leprosy is more common in California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York and Texas, according to a 2009 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration.



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In addition to Volusia County, health officials in nearby Brevard County, Florida, have seen a recent increase in cases, with 18 reported over the last five years. Of the eight people diagnosed with leprosy in Florida last year, three were from Brevard County.



Barry Inman, an epidemiologist for Brevard County Department of Health, said the number of cases remained small but was much higher than previous decades, when they would normally see around one case a year.



"This is hard to track," said Inman, who noted the disease can incubate from nine months to 20 years.



"Compared to past history, it is significant and they are looking at it," Inman said of the local health department.



Inman said some of those were infected after interacting with armadillos, a known carrier of the disease.



PHOTO: Health departments have connected past leprosy cases to infections from armadillos.Getty Images

PHOTO: Health departments have connected past leprosy cases to infections from armadillos.

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommends people avoid contact armadillos to limit the possibility they can contract the bacteria that causes leprosy.



Symptoms of leprosy include skin lesions that may be faded or discolored, thick, stiff or dry skin, numbness in affected areas, ulcers on the soles of feet or muscle weakness or paralysis.



An estimated one to two million people have been permanently disabled by the disease. Today, the disease can be treated with antibiotics, although a course of treatment can be lengthy, lasting between six months to two years according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

[Deleted]

Do people have armadillos for pets? Or one of those stress animal?

[summer]

I seriously want to live in some bubble.

[cohmom]

Feb 27, 2015 16:52:14 GMT -5 @hannymaren said:

Do people have armadillos for pets? Or one of those stress animal?

[kbr]
People actually do have armadillos as pets. I have yet to see a service armadillo but it would not surprise me at all.

[sushi]

I'd take my chances with leprosy or plague before I'd take chances with az politics

[cohmom]

Feb 27, 2015 17:51:06 GMT -5 sushi said:

I'd take my chances with leprosy or plague before I'd take chances with az politics

Ooo pick plague. It's much more treatable!

[pandorica]

H keeps telling me he wants to catch an armadillo. I told him not to, because of leprosy, but he always says it wouldn't happen. I need to show him this!

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Feb 27, 2015 17:47:20 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Also fun to know: bubonic plague is still alive and well horning out in fucking prairie dogs or some shit down in Arizona. So now you have two reasons to not move there.

Yep. When I lived there, there were signs warning people not to try and pet the prairie dogs because of it. *shudder*

[orangeblossom]

Feb 27, 2015 17:47:20 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Also fun to know: bubonic plague is still alive and well horning out in fucking prairie dogs or some shit down in Arizona. So now you have two reasons to not move there.

Yup, I knew this, along with a whole bunch of stuff, I'd rather not know.  summer would not like it if I shared some things with the class.

[cc]

I live there. I just have to laugh.

[ESF]

I knew bubonic plague still existed, but I thought it was because of bats in the caverns in the southwest, not the sweet, adorable prairie dogs.

Damn this board, ruining prairie dogs now.

[orangeblossom]

Feb 28, 2015 15:20:19 GMT -5 ESF said:

I knew bubonic plague still existed, but I thought it was because of bats in the caverns in the southwest, not the sweet, adorable prairie dogs.

Damn this board, ruining prairie dogs now.

I heard on NPR this morning, that it could have been cute little gerbils spreading plague back in the day, and not rats.

Not the cute little gerbils.

[msmerymac]

Feb 28, 2015 15:29:27 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Feb 28, 2015 15:20:19 GMT -5 ESF said:

I knew bubonic plague still existed, but I thought it was because of bats in the caverns in the southwest, not the sweet, adorable prairie dogs.

Damn this board, ruining prairie dogs now.

I heard on NPR this morning, that it could have been cute little gerbils spreading plague back in the day, and not rats.

Not the cute little gerbils.

Did gerbils really run rampant around Europe 800 years ago, though? Rats? Rats I can believe.

[orangeblossom]

Feb 28, 2015 16:07:24 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Feb 28, 2015 15:29:27 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

I heard on NPR this morning, that it could have been cute little gerbils spreading plague back in the day, and not rats.

Not the cute little gerbils.

Did gerbils really run rampant around Europe 800 years ago, though? Rats? Rats I can believe.

I thought that too. I was only half paying attention. I'll have to look it up when I get home.

[orangeblossom]

Mar 1, 2015 8:12:13 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Feb 28, 2015 15:29:27 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

I heard on NPR this morning, that it could have been cute little gerbils spreading plague back in the day, and not rats.

Not the cute little gerbils.

Did you hear that on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me? Did you hear the bit about how we need Jewish mothers to go shut down ISIS? I was crying. "Oh, wow. Look at the hot shot suicide bomber. Can't make time to call his mother. Look at that. Now you made your sister cry."

It might have been Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.  I truly, was half paying attention.  Probably GBCNing in the car and trying to listen at the same time.


I didn't hear the part about the Jewish mothers.  Oh my.