Leprosy

[ramonmercado]

“…about 66% of cases are from people who immigrated from leprosy endemic countries, about 34% were locally acquired, a concerning number because the cause is unknown, the study said—there’s “no clear evidence” of animal transmission or other “traditionally known risk factors.” “

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariann...eastern-states-causes-symptoms-and-treatment/

I’d guess that the 34% from “unknown causes” were people in contact with immigrants who, for whatever reason, didn’t know that they were immigrants or preferred not to discuss other people’s immigration status with the authorities.

maximus otter

Or armadillos as Kondoru suggested.

Although most cases of leprosy are spread from person to person, the disease can also be spread through zoonotic (animal) contact — especially through armadillos.

In the southern US, some armadillos are infected with the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, the CDC reports, and it’s possible that the animals can spread it to people who come into contact with them.

https://nypost.com/2023/07/31/leprosy-on-the-rise-in-florida-cdc-health-alert/

 

[AnonyJ]

“…about 66% of cases are from people who immigrated from leprosy endemic countries, about 34% were locally acquired, a concerning number because the cause is unknown, the study said—there’s “no clear evidence” of animal transmission or other “traditionally known risk factors.” “

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariann...eastern-states-causes-symptoms-and-treatment/

I’d guess that the 34% from “unknown causes” were people in contact with immigrants who, for whatever reason, didn’t know that they were immigrants or preferred not to discuss other people’s immigration status with the authorities.

maximus otter

34% of cases could have been Florida-resident people (family, close friends) in contact with the persons who had immigrated into US/travelled abroad and developed leprosy.

That's how I would interpret those data.

 

[catseye]

34% of cases could have been Florida-resident people (family, close friends) in contact with the persons who had immigrated into US/travelled abroad and developed leprosy.

That's how I would interpret those data.

Either that or there are a LOT more armadillos wandering around than reading has led me to believe.

 

[ramonmercado]

A church which was formerly a refuge for Lepers, it also has a pew for Ada Lovelace.

Welcome to one of the smallest churches still holding services​

BBC
The church cannot be accessed by car

Nestled between Porlock Weir and Lynton on the Exmoor coast is the tiny hamlet of Culbone, a place not accessible by car but familiar to people on the South West Coast Path. It's here you'll find the tiny St Bueno's Church, which has no electricity or running water and only seats 40 people. People visiting it have to park a mile-and-a-half away and walk through woodland to reach the site.

But this is no stone relic - services are still held here in one of the smallest parish churches in England still open to worshippers.

Once a place of refuge for people with leprosy, it also contains a seat reserved for Ava Lovelace, a local resident and the woman described as the mother of modern computing.

Jeremy Payne, church warden, explained in the 16th Century, there would have been around 90 people living in the area due to it being a leper colony.

"The lepers were distanced from the general public to protect them because there's no cure," he told BBC Radio Somerset.

"In there own funny little way, they were quite prosperous doing charcoal burning. They found a way to survive."

Mr Payne also pointed out a feature on the church called Leper's Squint, where locals would be able to receive communion, without having to enter the church itself.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c25rpey25xjo

 

[merricat]

I'm surprised it hasn't been turned into an AirB&B

"We hope you have enjoyed your stay at Leper's Squint. Please return the keys to the designated keysafe prior to leaving, no later than 4am on Saturday morning, knackered or not".

 

[catseye]

Lots of churches have lepers' squints. I remember having the whole principle explained to me by my mother during a coach trip once. I think I might possibly have slightly annoyed her with my questions...

 

[Analogue Boy]

Red squirrels in the uk are partial to a bit of leprosy. - That was never part of my training in the Tufty Club.

 

[Stormkhan]

My local church has a Leper's Squint that was long ago filled in.
I had to point it out to the local incumbent who hadn't heard of such a thing.

I'm not Christian but interested in history.

 

[maximus otter]

Red squirrels in the uk are partial to a bit of leprosy. - That was never part of my training in the Tufty Club.

There hasn’t been a case of indigenous leprosy in the UK since 1798.

l think we’re safe.

maximus otter

 

[catseye]

There hasn’t been a case of indigenous leprosy in the UK since 1798.

l think we’re safe.

maximus otter

This is true. However, they have retitled it Hanson's Disease, so as not to alarm the populace (it's still endemic in parts of Africa).

 

[maximus otter]

This is true. However, they have retitled it Hanson's Disease, so as not to alarm the populace (it's still endemic in parts of Africa).

Just keep away from Hansen. You’ll be fine.

maximus otter

 

[catseye]

Just keep away from Hansen. You’ll be fine.

maximus otter

Mmmmmm...ok.

 

[PeteS]

As a slight aside Stephen Donaldson wrote a few fantasy novels in which the anti hero, Thomas Covenant, suffered from leprosy. The novels were a bit wordy but if you enjoy fantasy well worth a read. Iirc SD's father was a leprosy specialist which is presumably where the idea originated.

 

[Stormkhan]

The first Thomas Covenant was fine but the rest seemed to drag. I got fed up with 'the hero' constantly insisting that this fantasy world exists only in his head, he still suffers from leprosy in reality, so he really couldn't care for the events in this alternate world. Wouldn't it be more believable for him to enjoy not being afflicted ... even if it was only in this fantasy world?

 

[PeteS]

The first Thomas Covenant was fine but the rest seemed to drag. I got fed up with 'the hero' constantly insisting that this fantasy world exists only in his head, he still suffers from leprosy in reality, so he really couldn't care for the events in this alternate world. Wouldn't it be more believable for him to enjoy not being afflicted ... even if it was only in this fantasy world?

Yep SD milked the character too far until the seventh or eighth novel became virtually unreadable. Unique idea though albeit ruined by too much introspection.

 

[Stormkhan]

I preferred The Many Coloured Land series by Julian May.

 

[ramonmercado]

That's nuts.

Humans may have caught leprosy from squirrels in medieval times, researchers say.

They studied human and red squirrel bones from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England, and found they had closely related strains of the bacteria that causes it.

Leprosy is a chronic disease infectious between humans that attacks the skin, nerves and mucous membranes. No-one is thought to have caught it inside the UK for 70 years but it's still endemic in many parts of the world.

Armadillos carry it and are suspected of passing it on to humans. Some modern red squirrels in the UK also have it, but there has never been a reported case of transmission to humans and experts say the risk is very low.

It’s the first time a medieval animal has been identified as a host for the disease.

"The finding of leprosy in modern squirrels was surprising and then it's incredible that we found it in the medieval period," said study co-author Dr Sarah Inskip of the University of Leicester. "It really goes against the narrative that it was a human disease specifically," she said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj7mry8yvrmo