Florida Hits Record 36 Leprosy Cases in 2025 Surge

Central Florida Counties See Highest Concentration of Infections

The geographic distribution of these cases reveals a troubling pattern centered on the heart of the state.

While cases have appeared from the coast to the interior, central Florida counties are bearing the brunt of the increase.

Health records confirm cases in 14 specific counties during 2025: Brevard, Charlotte, Duval, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia.

This list spans a wide area, but the density is palpable in the central region.

Okeechobee County, for instance, reported a new case as recently as the current monitoring period, adding to the 2025 totals.

The concentration in these areas challenges the old assumption that leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is primarily an imported illness.

Historically, doctors in the U.S. would look for travel history to countries like Brazil, India, or Indonesia when a patient presented with symptoms.

That clinical approach is changing in Florida.

The presence of cases in inland counties like Highlands and Okeechobee, which have significant agricultural and wild areas, points toward local environmental factors.

In contrast, urban centers like Miami-Dade also reported cases, but the central cluster remains the most statistically significant anomaly.

Public health officials said they are focusing surveillance efforts on these counties to understand the specific conditions driving the transmission.

The geographic spread suggests that the bacteria, *Mycobacterium leprae*, has established a firm foothold in the local ecosystem.

Residents in these counties do not need to panic, officials said, but they should be vigilant.

The disease progresses slowly, and early detection is key to preventing nerve damage.

• 14 counties reported confirmed cases in 2025.
• Okeechobee County reported a new case in mid-July 2026.
• Central Florida shows the highest density of infections.

Local Transmission Outpaces Imported Cases in State Data

Perhaps the most critical finding in the 2025 data is the source of these infections.

Of the 36 people diagnosed last year, 27 were believed to have acquired the infection within Florida itself.

This statistic fundamentally alters the risk profile for residents who have never traveled abroad.

Only one patient was determined to have caught the disease elsewhere in the United States, and three were infected outside the country.

The source remained unknown for five patients.

This high rate of local acquisition distinguishes Florida from other states.

According to the National Hansen's Disease Program, Florida accounted for 36 of the 174 cases reported across the entire country in 2025.

This means roughly 20% of all leprosy cases in the U.S. occurred in just one state.

Furthermore, the fact that the vast majority of Florida's cases were locally acquired suggests the state is now a hotspot for transmission, not just a destination for imported diseases.

Medical experts said this shift forces a re-evaluation of how doctors diagnose the condition.

Physicians in Florida are now being advised to consider Hansen's disease even in patients with no international travel history.

The bacteria causing the disease is slow-growing.

Symptoms can take years to appear after the initial infection, which makes pinpointing the exact time and place of exposure difficult.

However, the sheer volume of cases with no travel link creates a compelling case for local transmission.

This reality brings the focus back to the environment and the animals that inhabit it.

While human-to-human transmission is possible, it requires prolonged close contact.

The rise in sporadic cases across different counties points toward a shared environmental source rather than a single outbreak among people.

• 27 of 36 cases in 2025 were acquired locally.
• Florida had 20% of all U.S. cases in 2025.
• Only 1 case was traced to another U.S. state.

Armadillos and Environment Drive Central Florida Cluster

The primary suspect behind the local transmission of Hansen's disease in Florida is the nine-banded armadillo.

These mammals are the only known reservoir for *Mycobacterium leprae* in North America.

They are natural carriers of the bacteria and can shed it in their saliva and feces.

In the southern United States, particularly in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, armadillos are abundant.

Human interaction with armadillos, whether direct handling or simply disturbing their burrows, creates a pathway for infection.

Health officials noted that many of the central Florida counties seeing high case counts, such as Volusia, Seminole, and Brevard, offer habitats that are highly conducive to armadillos.

These areas feature a mix of suburban development and wooded patches where wildlife thrives.

As humans expand into these spaces, the barrier between people and animal reservoirs blurs.

Experts said the bacteria can survive in the soil for a limited time, potentially increasing the risk of exposure for people gardening or working outdoors where armadillos dig.

The bacteria do not survive well in extreme heat or direct sunlight, but the shaded, humid soil of Florida can provide a temporary haven.

While the armadillo link is well-established, researchers are also investigating other potential factors.

Climate change may be expanding the range of the insects that could theoretically transmit the disease, though this pathway is less common than direct contact with reservoirs.

Genetic studies of the bacteria found in Florida patients have often matched strains found in local armadillos, confirming the zoonotic transmission.

Officials advise residents to avoid handling armadillos, alive or dead, and to keep pets away from them.

Cooking wild game thoroughly is also recommended if hunting is practiced in these areas.

The environmental link is a crucial piece of the puzzle.

It explains why the disease is popping up in disparate locations without a clear human chain of transmission.

• Nine-banded armadillos are the main animal reservoir.
• Central Florida habitats support large armadillo populations.
• Genetic studies match human and armadillo bacteria strains.

State Accounts for 20% of All U.S. Hansen's Disease Cases

The surge in Florida has propelled the state to the top of national rankings for Hansen's disease.

With 36 cases in 2025 against a national total of 174, Florida's burden is disproportionate to its population size.

California and Texas typically report cases as well, but Florida's recent spike has been more pronounced.

This national context underscores the severity of the situation.

The United States typically sees around 150 to 200 cases of leprosy annually.

Most of these are historically linked to immigration from endemic countries.

However, Florida's data breaks that mold.

The state's experience mirrors a global trend where leprosy persists despite being eliminated as a public health problem in many nations in the 1990s.

The disease remains endemic in parts of the world, but the emergence of a domestic hotspot in the U.S. is unusual for the 21st century.

Public health researchers said the Florida cluster serves as a reminder that infectious diseases can re-emerge or shift geographically based on environmental and ecological changes.

The National Hansen's Disease Program is closely monitoring the state's data.

The federal government provides funding for treatment and research, but the day-to-day response falls to state and local health departments.

The concentration of cases in Florida also raises questions about diagnostics.

Because the disease is so rare, many primary care physicians may never encounter a case in their careers.

This can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment.

Skin rashes might be dismissed as eczema or psoriasis.

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