Central Florida Left Stunned by Unprecedented Increase in Leprosy Cases

In a startling revelation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an unsettling swell of leprosy cases in Central Florida. This unexpected rise in a disease historically uncommon in the United States has left health experts scrambling for answers.

The Sunshine State is witnessing an augmented track record of leprosy cases that lack traditional risk factors.

This trend is contributing to mounting evidence that leprosy has become endemic in the southeastern United States. The number of reported leprosy cases in these states has more than doubled in the last decade, raising serious concerns about public health.

Potential Leprosy Epidemic in Central Florida ….How/Why is a Biblical Scourge Coming to America…. https://t.co/VPOyTTGfap pic.twitter.com/Ln42r6WC6m

— Grace Chong 🇺🇸 (@gc22gc) July 29, 2023

According to the National Hansen’s Disease Program, 159 new cases ended up being documented in America during 2020. Florida was included on the list of states with the most reports. Central Florida accounted for a staggering 81% of cases reported in the state and nearly a fifth of nationally reported cases.

Interestingly, many of these cases lack traditional risk factors. A high proportion of Florida residents who spend a significant amount of time outdoors have been affected, leading investigators to consider environmental reservoirs as potential sources of transmission.

In a surprising twist, several cases in Central Florida show no clear proof of zoonotic openness or traditionally known risk factors.

For instance, a 54-year-old landscaper from central Florida, with no risk factors for known transmission routes, was diagnosed with lepromatous leprosy.

@ericadamsnyc Thinking you’re the only city with a problem?? The only remedy is CLOSING the border!
CDC warns of leprosy in Florida. ‘These states have the biggest influx of illegals, too.’ https://t.co/Yyut0fL7tx via @americanwire_

— Patriots🍊𝕏 (@45Patriots) August 2, 2023

Furthermore, a unique strain of M. leprae, the bacterium causing leprosy, has been found in unrelated cases in the South, identical to the strain found in nine-banded armadillos in the region.

This suggests a strong likelihood of zoonotic transmission, where diseases spread between animals and people.

While leprosy in the United States used to impact people who immigrated from leprosy-endemic areas, approximately 34% of new case patients during 2015-2020 appear to have locally acquired the disease.

This suggests leprosy has become an endemic disease process in Florida, supporting a need for more review into other methods of autochthonous transmission.

This article appeared in Conservative Cardinal and has been published here with permission.