Leprosy considered 'endemic' to Central Florida, health officials say

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A group of researchers is warning about leprosy becoming endemic to Central Florida, which they say now accounts for one-fifth of all new cases.

Aashni Bhukhan, Charles Dunn and Rajiv Nathoo and published on the CDC's website says Central Florida accounts for one-fifth of the 159 US cases reported in 2020. Though that is down from 216 in 2019, researchers are concerned, because most cases seem to be locally acquired.

"It is a reemergence," said Sinnott, who was not involved in producing the report. "We're seeing more of it now. Why this is, people don't know."Ninety-five percent of people are genetically immune to leprosy, a disease that has been around since 600 BC but has seldom been found in the U.S. Until now, most had traveled from areas where the disease was already prevalent. It takes long periods of exposure for it to be passed from person to person.'I've seen patients as young as 19': doctors say younger people getting diagnosed with colon cancerThe other thing to watch for is exposure to armadillos. Researchers say a large percentage of U.S. patients have the same strain of the virus as is commonly found in the animal, suggesting that close encounters may be to blame.

It is a curable disease but must be caught early to avoid long term damage to nerves and limbs. The key is recognizing it.that I have read and agree

 

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