CDC: Leprosy Potentially Endemic in Florida

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Facts

  • According to a research paper published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday, leprosy cases in central Florida have increased dramatically over the last ten years.1
  • The researchers suggest an increase of leprosy cases lacking traditional risk factors in Florida "contribute to rising evidence that leprosy has become endemic in the southeastern United States."2
  • Florida reported 27 leprosy cases in 2020, 13 in 2021, and 8 in 2022. But cases are rising again, with 16 reported cases since the beginning of 2023.3
  • The CDC report reveals that Central Florida accounts for nearly one-fifth of all leprosy cases in the US and 81% of the cases reported in Florida.4
  • More than 200K leprosy cases are reported annually in over 100 countries. Though historically uncommon in the US, 159 new cases were reported in the country in 2020.5
  • The number of reported cases of leprosy in the southeastern US more than doubled over the last decade, the CDC reported, with about 34% of the cases reported between 2015 and 2020 being locally acquired.6

Sources: 1NBC, 2Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, 3Forbes, 4CBS, 5FOX News, and 6Guardian.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by CNN. Leprosy in the US previously affected people who had immigrated from leprosy-endemic areas. However, the exponential rise in locally acquired disease suggests Central Florida could be an unexpected leprosy hotbed. Nonetheless, there's no need for alarm or to cause public health panic as the numbers remain relatively low. Moreover, the infection is curable and doesn't spread through casual physical contact.
  • Narrative B, as provided by The Hill. Leprosy is increasing in the US not because of immigration but because of poverty, cramped housing, poor nutrition, and possible malfunction of the body's immune system. Scientists, physicians, and the federal government must look into environmental reservoirs, like plants, soil, and water, as potential transmission sources to better understand how and why this biblical disease is spiking in Florida.