FL: 2015/2016 Leprosy

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.mynews13.com/content/news...cases_fou.html


3 leprosy cases found in Volusia County; armadillos may be to blame
Health officials said the nine-banded armadillo naturally carries leprosy, or Hansen's Disease.
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2015

VOLUSIA COUNTY --

An ancient and rare disease is now being treated in Volusia County: leprosy.

Over the past five months, three cases of the disease have appeared in Volusia, according to health officials.

The health department said the cases are not related. Two of the patients may have gotten the infection from armadillos, specifically nine-banded armadillos, which are known to carry the disease...

[Pathfinder]

A Nine-banded Armadillo in the Green Swamp, central Florida.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadil..._Armadillo.jpg

Leprosy Cases Hit Florida Counties

Feb 27, 2015, 11:51 AM ET
By GILLIAN MOHNEY
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Some people might think of leprosy as a scourge from biblical times, but it still afflicts victims -- and a Florida county is reporting a rare increase in cases, with three people diagnosed in just five months.

In the past decade, before the new cases, only one person in Volusia County, Florida, was diagnosed with the disease.

Health officials there said the recent increase in cases was unexpected...
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In addition to Volusia County, health officials in nearby Brevard County, Florida, have seen a recent increase in cases, with 18 reported over the last five years. Of the eight people diagnosed with leprosy in Florida last year, three were from Brevard County.

Barry Inman, an epidemiologist for Brevard County Department of Health, said the number of cases remained small but was much higher than previous decades, when they would normally see around one case a year.
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Inman said some of those were infected after interacting with armadillos, a known carrier of the disease.

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommends people avoid contact armadillos to limit the possibility they can contract the bacteria that causes leprosy.
...

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/leprosy-cases-hit-florida-counties/story?id=29258128

[Shiloh]

Source: http://outbreaknewstoday.com/flagler...orida-in-2015/


Flagler County reports leprosy case, 9th case in Florida in 2015
Posted by Robert Herriman on June 29, 2015
The number of leprosy, or Hansen?s Disease cases in Florida during the first half of 2015 is nearly what the Sunshine state saw in all of last year as Flagler County reported the latest case on Friday. The case was reported from the city of Bunnell.

To date in 2015, Florida has seen nine leprosy cases, compared to the entirety of 2014, which saw 10 cases.

Brevard County has reported the most this year with three, with Volusia chalking up two and Flagler, Indian River, Lake and Polk counties all seeing one a piece...

[Pathfinder]

Health officials: Armadillos causing spike in Florida leprosy cases
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Last Updated: Thursday, July 23, 2015, 12:27 PM
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Armadillos are being blamed for a recent spike in leprosy cases throughout Florida, health officials said. The most recent case was reported in Flagler County a few weeks ago.

The Florida Department of Health is aware of the case, which is one of the nine reported...
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Residents are advised to stay away from armadillos. If you see one, call a trapper.

http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2015/7/23/florida_health_depar.html

[Shiloh]

Source: http://outbreaknewstoday.com/florida...estions-66469/


Florida DoH provide some clarification on leprosy questions
Posted by Robert Herriman on July 27, 2015

On Friday, Jul. 24, the Florida Department of Health released a Q & A informational video about Hansen?s disease, or leprosy, in light of all the media attention surrounding cases reported in the state.

I inquired with the health department about Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Carina Blackmore?s statement about a ?unique? strain in armadillos...

[sharon sanders]

from link above:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxlosTw2q-Y

[Shiloh]

Source: http://outbreaknewstoday.com/florida...6-cases-62657/

Florida leprosy tally now 20 confirmed cases in 2015, Brevard County sees 6 cases
Posted by Robert Herriman on November 23, 2015
About four or five months ago, every media outlet had jumped on the Florida leprosy bandwagon reporting cases in the Sunshine State linked to exposure to armadillos.
What is the status today?
According to the Florida Department of Health data, from Jan. 1 to Nov. 22 this year, 20 cases of leprosy, or Hansen?s disease have been confirmed...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://outbreaknewstoday.com/leprosy...-county-14100/


Leprosy in Florida: Updated case count, Most in Brevard County
Posted by Robert Herriman on September 22, 2016

In a follow-up to a report from February on the leprosy situation in Florida in 2016, updated data from the Department of Health shows the case tally has risen to 14 through Sep. 22.

The case count, all confirmed, are broken down by county as follows: Alachua (1), Bay (1), Brevard (8), Broward (1), Martin (1), Seminole (1) and Volusia (1). In Brevard County, three cases were reported from Merritt Island.

In 2015, Florida saw 27 confirmed leprosy cases, including 11 in Brevard County.

During the ten-year-period of 2004 to 2014, Florida reported 92 cases, averaging less than 10 per year....