Biblical disease making a worrying comeback - and one unusual animal is to blame

15 August 2023 , 21:58

558     0

Armadillos' burrowing habits can also make them a nuisance, but they are not huntable under Missouri law - and should not be eaten (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Armadillos could be behind the recent surge in a biblical disease which could make a comeback in the US, scientists claim.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium leprae. The disease affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes and is known to occur at all ages ranging from early childhood to old age.

Medical researchers say the source could be armadillos moving out of the southwest and into other parts of the country, including Missouri, and other places where the overall climate is getting warmer. Armadillos are a known carrier of the mycobacterium leprae.

The armadillos are said to have migrated as far north as Michigan, while the number of nine-banded armadillos in Missouri appears to grow each year. Those found in Missouri are normally about the size of house cats and live five years in the wild–though they can survive up to 20. In recent years they have become a common roadkill, owing to their tendency to jump in the face of danger, such as moving vehicles.

The armadillos are said to have migrated as far north as Michigan, while the number of nine-banded armadillos in Missouri appears to grow each year (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Their burrowing habits can also make them a nuisance to property owners, but they are not huntable under Missouri law and should not be eaten as ingesting the meat means ingesting the Hansen’s disease bacteria, reports KHQA news.

Inside quietest room in the world where no one can stay inside for over an hour

In 2020 doctors reported 159 cases of leprosy across the country. Dr. Charles Dunn said: "We did notice a slight uptick in the last decade in Florida, but again, low numbers, hard to catch, and the majority of the population have immunity."

Leprosy is curable and treatment during early stages can prevent disability. The disease is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases. People with leprosy can live with their families and go to school and work.

In the 1980s, there were 5.2 million cases globally but they went down to fewer than 200 thousand by 2020. Most new cases occur in 14 countries, with India accounting for more than half. In the 20 years from 1994 to 2014, 16 million people worldwide were cured of leprosy. About 200 cases per year are reported in the United States

Abigail O'Leary