--- title: Armadillos Cause Leprosy in Florida, Health Officials Say description: Heath officials in Florida warned people to avoid armadillos because they can pass leprosy to humans, WJAX-TV reports. canonical: https://time.com/3967472/florida-armadillos-leprosy/ author: Justin Worland article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-22T14:59:21.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-14T22:34:54.000Z article:section: Science og:title: Armadillos Are Giving People Leprosy in Florida og:description: There have been nine cases in humans so far this year og:url: https://time.com/3967472/florida-armadillos-leprosy/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8a48d9cf61775c5/69885be50a4a229ba59c53f8/armadillo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Nine-banded Armadillo og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Armadillos Are Giving People Leprosy in Florida twitter:description: There have been nine cases in humans so far this year twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd8a48d9cf61775c5/69885be50a4a229ba59c53f8/armadillo.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Armadillos Are Giving People Leprosy in Florida ## Video: Overstepping Boundaries: The Danger of Invasive Species [Watch (HLS stream): Overstepping Boundaries: The Danger of Invasive Species](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/zHyAT7e9.m3u8) (2:18)  _Published 2013-12-04. What are invasive species, and why are they dangerous? TIME's Bryan Walsh explains how animals like the Asian carp, lionfish, and Burmese python can be a threat._  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 14, 2023 10:34 PM UTCPublished: Jul 22, 2015 2:59 PM UTC  Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), adult, Sinton, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend, Texas, USA Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), adult, Sinton, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend, Texas, USAGetty Images  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 14, 2023 10:34 PM UTCPublished: Jul 22, 2015 2:59 PM UTC Heath officials in Florida warned people to avoid armadillos because they can pass leprosy to humans. Nine cases of leprosy in humans have already been reported so far this year in the state—close to the annual average of 10 cases, officials said. “It is still very, very unlikely to cause problems but be aware of armadillos and stay away from them,” Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society, [told WJAX-TV](http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/experts-warn-floridians-steer-clear-armadillos-avo/nm32L/). He told [_USA Today_](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/07/21/florida-leprosy-infected-armadillos/30465365/) that all nine of the Florida cases involved people who had come into close contact with armadillos. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [warns](http://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/exposure/armadillos.html) on its website that humans can contract the disease from armadillos but says “the risk is low.” Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a bacterial disease that harms human skin, making it dryer and thicker and causing lesions and growths. It remains rare in the U.S. and can be cured with antibiotics. 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