Leprosy is in the news again due to reported cases in Central Florida—but how common is this disease and how is it spread?
Here’s what to know
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What is leprosy?
Hansen’s disease, commonly known as leprosy, is caused by a slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
It effects the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose, and “in some cases, body parts may lose their sense of touch and pain, increasing the likelihood of injuries such as cuts and burns,” the CDC states
Each year, up to 225 people in the U.S. and 250,000 around the world are diagnosed with leprosy, experts say
How many cases of leprosy are there in Florida?
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According to the Florida Department of Health, cases of leprosy peaked in the state at 39 in 2025. So far this year, 19 cases have been reported
In 2023, a research paper published in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal found that reported cases doubled in the southeastern United States over the last 10 years, and Central Florida in particular has seen a disproportionate share of cases, NBC News reported
For instance, since 2020, every single Florida county has seen less than 10 cases total—except for Brevard and Volusia. Those counties have reported 43 and 19 cases total since 2020, respectively
That’s where news headlines with the word “endemic” come in
NBC News reported, citing the research paper, that the increase in cases points to Central Florida being “an endemic location for the disease, meaning leprosy has a consistent presence in the region’s population rather than popping up in the form of one-off outbreaks.”
For comparison, since 2020, Miami-Dade has seen a total of five cases and Broward has seen three
How is leprosy spread?
The first thing you should know is that 95% of people have a natural immunity to Hansen’s disease
“So even if you have worked or lived closely with someone who has untreated leprosy, you would need to be one of the five percent of people who are at risk of developing the disease,” the organization The Leprosy Mission writes on their website
The disease is most commonly spread from person-to-person, but unlike infections like Covid-19, it takes prolonged contact to pass on leprosy
“Leprosy does not spread easily between people,” the CDC states. “You must have prolonged, close contact with someone with untreated leprosy over many months to catch the disease.”
In the southern United States, leprosy can also be spread through contact with an animal sometimes naturally infected with the bacteria—the nine-banded armadillo. However, the CDC says the risk of becoming infected this way is “very low,” and the Florida Department of Health calls it “uncommon.”
Additionally, the Florida Department of Health says some research suggests that M. leprae may survive temporarily in soil
“Wearing gloves while working with soil is a simple precaution that helps protect against cuts and getting soil into wounds,” officials say
How is leprosy treated?
According to the CDC, leprosy is treated with a combination of antibiotics
“Treatment usually lasts between one to two years,” experts say. “The illness can be cured if treatment is completed as prescribed.”
