Seventeen Hansen’s disease cases had been recorded in Florida by July 11, already one more than the state had at the same point in 2025.
Florida’s rise is drawing attention because studies link some infections to nine-banded armadillos, the only known animal host besides humans, though prolonged exposure is typically required.
Three of the 17 cases were acquired outside the U.S. and one outside Florida, while Volusia and Miami-Dade each reported two cases and most other affected counties reported one.
Thirty-six Florida cases were reported in 2025, up from 20 in 2024, and the state accounted for more than 20% of U.S. cases last year after averaging about six annually from 1992 to 2014.
The disease remains rare and usually curable with one to two years of antibiotics, but symptoms can take up to 20 years to appear and untreated infections can cause permanent nerve damage.