Florida has reported 17 cases of leprosy so far in 2026, primarily in the central region of the state, according to People.
The figure adds to a sustained upward trend that has made the Sunshine State the main focal point of the disease in the United States.
The figure comes after 2025 ended with 36 cases, the highest annual total since the Florida Department of Health began recording the disease in 1992, as reported by Univision.
The evolution is striking: the state went from just eight cases in 2022 to 23 in 2023; 20 in 2024; and 36 in 2025.
Florida, national epicenter
The state of Florida concentrated 36 of the 174 cases reported across the United States in 2025, according to data from the National Hansen's Disease Program.
At the national level, the total number has decreased compared to previous years - 205 cases in 2024 and 225 in 2023 - but Florida is going against the tide.
The geographical concentration points to the I-4 highway corridor in the central part of the state.
The counties with confirmed diagnoses in 2026 include Brevard, Charlotte, Duval, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia.
An especially relevant fact is that 27 of the 36 cases in 2025 in Florida were probably acquired within the state itself.
A publication from 2025 in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases was more direct: it pointed out that leprosy "is now considered endemic" in parts of the southeastern United States, especially in Florida.
The role of armadillos
Health authorities are investigating the role of the nine-banded armadillos as a possible source of infection.
These animals are one of the few known natural reservoirs of the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, and it is estimated that between 15% and 20% of the specimens in some areas of the south of the country carry it.
A 2015 study by the National Hansen's Disease Program confirmed that these animals can transmit the bacteria to humans by touching or holding them.
The disease can later be transmitted between individuals through close and prolonged contact with the nasal and oral fluids of an untreated infected person.
Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida's Surgeon General, publicly addressed this potential connection in July 2026 during an appearance in Orlando, although he also sought to reassure the public, stating that "leprosy remains rare in the United States."
What is leprosy and how is it treated?
Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and the lining of the nose.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bacteria can take up to 20 years to show symptoms after exposure.
Common signs include skin spots with loss of sensitivity, numbness or weakness in the hands and feet, and skin lesions that do not improve.
Without treatment, it can lead to permanent disabilities.
The good news is that the disease is treatable: it is treated with antibiotics for one to two years.
Furthermore, the CDC emphasizes that about 95% of the population has natural resistance to the bacteria.
Transmission between people requires close and prolonged contact for months with someone infected without treatment.
It is not contagious through a handshake or by sitting next to an ill person.
A complex healthcare landscape
The resurgence of leprosy is not the only health challenge Florida faces in 2026.
The state also reports a measles outbreak with over 141 confirmed cases this year, an active cyclosporiasis outbreak since May, and cases of the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus (a flesh-eating bacteria), which paints a complex public health picture.
Authorities recommend avoiding handling wild armadillos, especially if they are dead or sick, and seeking medical attention for any persistent skin changes or loss of sensitivity, particularly if there is a history of contact with these animals or with diagnosed individuals.
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