Volusia County has reported two cases of leprosy so far this year and Central Florida has had “a higher concentration” of the disease than many other places nationwide, according to a Halifax Health spokesman.
The state has reported 17 cases so far this year as of July 11, one more than the state had by this time last year, according to a story by USA TODAY Network-Florida reporter C.A. Bridges. (Flagler County has not yet reported any cases.)
Volusia is one of 14 of Florida’s 67 counties that has reported at least one case of leprosy; others include Orange, Seminole, Lake and St. Johns. Volusia is among three counties, along with Charlotte and Miami-Dade, that have reported two cases.
“Volusia County has been among the Florida counties reporting cases, and researchers have noted that Central Florida has experienced a higher concentration of cases than many other parts of the country,” wrote Nicholas Heiskell, public information officer for Halifax Health in Daytona Beach.
Central Florida has concentration of leprosy
Why Central Florida?
“The reason for the concentration in Central Florida is, to my understanding, unknown — beyond animal exposure, environmental factors may play a role, but it’s unclear. What we do know is, even with the higher concentration of cases, it still remains a very rare occurrence,” Heiskell wrote.
But there’s no need to panic. With that said, someone who contracts leprosy requires treatment.
“While leprosy remains a very rare illness, and the risk to the general public remains low, untreated infections can cause serious complications,” he wrote.
It’s not the first time leprosy in Florida has drawn attention. In 2023, Harvard Health Publishing tackled the topic after a man was diagnosed with leprosy in Central Florida. It said that the man was a landscaper so it was possible he contracted the disease through his work, because the organism that causes it can be found in the soil, the Harvard article stated.
Is leprosy endemic to Central Florida?
The 2023 article noted that “some experts speculate that leprosy may be endemic now in Central Florida, where about 80% of the state’s cases are diagnosed.”
And the article defined “endemic” meaning there were enough sources of infection to allow the disease to spread even without new cases from outside the area.
But 2023 article also stated that it was “unproven” whether leprosy had become endemic to Central Florida.
Harvard Health Publishing also noted some myths about leprosy. One myth is that people’s body parts will fall off. That doesn’t happen, it said. But “surgical amputations” may be needed sometimes to “treat nonhealing wounds and infections.”
Another myth: Leprosy is easy to spread. No. Harvard Health Publishing says 95% of people are “naturally immune to leprosy.” The spread of infection between people requires “close and prolonged” contact. And after one week of treatment, a leprosy patient is no longer contagious.
Leprosy remains rare and easily treated when diagnosed early
The article from C.A. Bridges noted that leprosy, which is also known as Hansen’s disease, remains rare and can be treated easily with “standard antibiotics when diagnosed early.”
Armadillos can host the bacteria that causes leprosy. So there has been some suggestion that even if a person does not directly contact an armadillo there could be some armadillo to soil to human contact, according to the USA TODAY Florida story.
Some ways to lower your already low risk of contracting leprosy
Halifax Health recommends the following to reduce the risk:
Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and stop disease progression.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Central Florida has “higher concentration” of leprosy, Halifax says
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
