Armadillos are giving people leprosy in Florida

[Jazzy]

What do you know about armadillos?

You probably know that they’re funny little turtle-rabbit things. (Turtle-rabbits, incidentally, is what the Aztecs called them.)

But did you know that some of them are naturally infected with leprosy?

It’s technical name is Hansen’s disease and armadillos are one of the only animals known to carry it.

Leprosy, which has affected humanity for thousands of years, causes nerve and skin damage, and there are about 50 to 100 cases of it in the U.S. every year. Around 95 per cent of people are immune to it.

But there’s been a spike in cases in Florida, and armadillos are apparently to blame.

‘There is a clear reason why this is happening in Florida,’ Dr Sunil Joshi, of the Duval County Medical Society, told CNN.

‘New homes are being developed, and we are tearing down armadillos’ homes in the process. Now these creatures are coming out in the daytime, and the people who are getting exposed are those working outside.’

If leprosy is left untreated it can become life-threatening, but if the disease is dealt with quickly the prognosis is usually good.

Source

I had no idea that some of them are naturally infected with leprosy. Did you?

 

[MrDawn]

No. I had no idea. People said they were nasty animals. I never thought it was that bad before.