Leprosy Is Spreading in Florida

[riversedge]

Source: newsweek



Updated Mar 21, 2024 at 4:22 PM EDT


Leprosy is on the rise again in the United States, particularly in Florida, concerning disease specialists.

According to the World Health Organization, about 200,000 cases of the disease occur every year in 120 countries worldwide and are often associated with contact with armadillos.



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Leprosy has a long history of stigma, mainly due to the impacts it can have on a victim's physical appearance. Until the mid-1900s, treatment wasn't available, meaning that the disease could progress to the point of causing severe physical deformities, including disfigured hands and feet, and changes to the appearance of the face and nose. These symptoms inspired such fear of contagion that leprosy patients were often socially excluded.

It is transmitted via respiratory droplets, often from close and prolonged contact with untreated individuals who have the active form of the disease. However, it is not highly contagious, and most people who are exposed to the bacterium do not develop leprosy..................................




Leprosy is treatable with multidrug therapy (MDT), which typically includes a combination of antibiotics such as dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications and reduce transmission of the disease. With timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the vast majority of leprosy cases can be cured, and deaths directly attributable to leprosy is now, thankfully, relatively rare.








Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/leprosy-cases-rising-florida-1882008

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