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Leprosy on the rise in Florida. Are armadillos to blame?
WYFF • • health
Key Points:
- Leprosy cases are rising in Florida, with 17 cases reported in 2026 so far, up from 36 in 2025 and 20 in 2024, making Florida a hotspot for the disease in the U.S.
- Health officials attribute some U.S. leprosy cases to contact with nine-banded armadillos, which can carry the Mycobacterium leprae bacterium and transmit it to humans, especially in the southern states.
- Despite the increase, experts emphasize that leprosy is not currently an outbreak in Florida but may be considered a low-level endemic disease in the region.
- Leprosy is a curable bacterial infection affecting skin and nerves, primarily spread through prolonged respiratory contact, and poses low risk through casual interaction.
- Officials recommend avoiding close contact with armadillos and using protective clothing when gardening or working in areas where armadillos are active to reduce exposure risk.
