>> There definitely is a leprosy in the United States.
The most of it is imported. But we do have homegrown
leprosy here, principally in Texas to Florida for many.
>> Leprosy may seem like a problem from biblical times.
But Doctor Nicole, I mean, the chief hospital epidemiologist
at the University of Florida tells me that the disease is
very much still around. In fact, leprosy could now be
endemic in central Florida.
>> And then that means something that is circulating
and is present at all times and it can be at a low level.
>> According to a new research letter from the CDC, Florida is
among the top states with the most new cases of leprosy
that's based on data from 2020. The latest research data
available so far this year in Florida, there have been 15
confirmed cases of leprosy according to the state. And
most of those cases are in Brevard County. In fact,
Brevard has seen the most leprosy cases in Florida since
2011 and in Twenty-twenty Brevard accounted for over 12%
of all leprosy cases in the country. So what happens if
someone has leprosy? Doctor Ivey says that usually means
lesions on the skin.
>> You have something that's like, you know, a few
centimeters on your arm and you can't feel it.
That's going to be different from the typical rapper just
going to be a G or or some other way that you would,
you know, identify with the normal rash. So it is it is
distinct. It can be extremely disfiguring, though. So it
definitely causes a lot of distress.
>> So how does someone contract leprosy doctor eye of the
nhs's? Usually armadillos are to blame. Physical contact is
really what you need. You need you need to have physical
contact with infected armadillo. Doctor Eugene says
fortunately antibiotics are very effective at treating
leprosy
in Orlando. Marlie Martinez, WESH, 2 news