Ancient Disease That Disfigures the Face Returns — Who Is at Risk

Florida has seen a rise in leprosy cases, with about two dozen reported, centered in Brevard County. The disease has an incubation period of up to 20 years and, without treatment, can cause paralysis and facial disfigurement. Doctors reassure that by 2026 leprosy will be fully curable with antibiotics, and over 95% of the population has immunity.

In the U.S. state of Florida, there has been a rise in cases of leprosy (Hansen's disease), known for over four thousand years. According to UNILAD, about two dozen confirmed cases have been registered, with the epicenter in Brevard County, where symptoms were found in several elderly residents. Although leprosy is traditionally rare in the U.S. (averaging about 225 cases per year), a sudden spike in one region has prompted the CDC to intensify monitoring. Early detection is complicated by a long incubation period of up to 20 years. Initial symptoms mimic dermatological issues: pale or reddened patches, subcutaneous nodules, numbness in limbs, muscle weakness, eyebrow loss, and decreased vision. Without treatment, the bacterium attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing paralysis, chronic ulcers, facial deformities, and blindness. The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified; a hypothesis about contact with wild armadillos is being considered, but the risk of infection from animals is assessed as low. Doctors reassure that by 2026 the disease will be fully curable with antibiotics, and over 95% of the population has innate immunity.