Leprosy in Florida

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CNN had a rather alarming article today about a vertiable plague of leprosy in Florida...there are nine cases....

Apparently Armadilloes, man's mortal enemy are to blame. Thus the stern admonition that people "should not touch the cat sized animal".

Odd, I never had the urge to pet or befriend one.
 
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Long ago, I had a co-worker who made armadillo chili. I actually tried it once. I have always heard about armadillos having leprosy, but I don't know if that's true or not. I've shot some armadillos in my front yard, but that's another long story.
 
Just this past weekend I saw on TV a story about armadillo races in TX. They were handling them like pet cats and wore no gloves.
 
the dam things have made the migration up here into parts of Missouri several years ago.. I've seen them on I-70 just west of here & in one county south of here running in their curious gait down the highway... they've seemed to adapted to overwintering here by digging a little deeper.........
 
It's not that they all have it. They are just capable of contracting it, same as humans. The cases of leprosy may have come from human contact as well. An old friend did his thesis on the nine banded eastern armadillo. Taught me how to clean and cook one. Tastes pretty good, just a pain to clean because all that dirt on them dulls a knife REALLY quick!
 
Marshwheeling said:
CZ52 with "armor-piercing" rounds?
Click to expand...

No, a .45 ACP with FMJ bullets. Believe me, they do not fall over dead after they are hit. They can travel quite a distance. One ran into my garage (door was open), and sprayed blood everywhere. Afterward, I kept the garage door closed on my expeditions.
 
DWalt said:
No, a .45 ACP with FMJ bullets. Believe me, they do not fall over dead after they are hit. They can travel quite a distance. One ran into my garage (door was open), and sprayed blood everywhere. Afterward, I kept the garage door closed on my expeditions.
Click to expand...

I use a .22 or in a pinch a shotgun on armadillos, not a .45!!
 
As a college student in Florida in the 1950"s, it created quite stir when we turned one loose in the girl's dorm in the middle of the night. We understood that the girl that discovered it on the way to the bathroom was more than slightly upset.
 
I guess south Florida would make an excellent leper's colony now that I think about it. Give them something other than oranges to be famous for.
 
They weren't in Mississippi for a long time. The first time I saw one I was 17 (50 years ago) and ran over it with my car. It left a dent in the fender. Since then I've seen thousands and killed hundreds. I get a couple of them in the garden every year. They can really mess stuff up. They ate all the worms that lived under our rabbit pens. I was going to use them to go fishing. My son and I walk the grounds at night several times a week looking for them before they tear something else up. They are real hole digging, worm eating, garden destroying pests. They also make a lot of noise while you're on a hunting stand. A .410 single shot works good at close range.
 
I looked it up and found this.



CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC 24/7: Saving Lives. Protecting People.
CDC A-Z Index
Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)
Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)

Transmission
Signs & Symptoms
Risk of Exposure
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Armadillos
Treatment
Health Care Workers
Resources

CDCHansen's Disease (Leprosy)Risk of Exposure
Armadillos and Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)
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armadilloSome armadillos in the southern United States are naturally infected with Hansen's disease.

While it’s possible for you to get the disease from an armadillo, the risk is low. Most people who come into contact with armadillos are unlikely to get Hansen’s disease.

But, if you decide to see a doctor because of your contact with an armadillo, make sure you provide a complete history of armadillo contact. Your doctor can determine whether or not you have the disease. In the unlikely event that you get Hansen’s disease, your doctor can also help you get treatment.

When possible, avoid contact with armadillos, so you’ll be more certain you’re not at risk for the disease.

Page last reviewed: April 29, 2013
Page last updated: April 29, 2013
Content source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP)

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