ramonmercado
CyberPunk
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- Aug 19, 2003
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“…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/