Florida Reports Record 36 Leprosy Cases in 2025, Central Florida Remains Epicenter
Key Insights
Florida recorded 36 cases of Hansen's disease (search) (leprosy) in 2025, the highest annual count in the state's modern disease database, surpassing the previous record of 29 cases in 2015.
Of the 36 patients, 27 were believed to have acquired the infection within Florida, and preliminary data show 17 additional cases already reported by mid-July 2026.
Brevard County in Central Florida has consistently reported the heaviest concentration, including 20 of the state's 27 cases in 2020, raising questions about endemicity.
Florida reported 36 cases of Hansen's disease (search), commonly known as leprosy, in 2025—the highest annual total recorded in the state's modern disease database, according to Florida Department of Health (search) records. The figure surpasses the previous high of 29 cases documented in 2015, marking a notable uptick for a disease that remains exceedingly rare in the United States.
Of the 36 patients identified in 2025, health officials determined that 27 acquired the infection within Florida, one elsewhere in the United States, and three outside the country. The source of infection could not be determined in five cases. Preliminary state figures indicate that an additional 17 cases had already been reported across Florida by mid-July 2026, suggesting the elevated case count may persist.
Geographic Concentration in Central Florida
The infections were not distributed evenly across the state. Central Florida, and Brevard County in particular, has consistently recorded the highest case counts. Brevard reported 20 of Florida's 27 total cases in 2020, along with 12 cases in 2019, nine in 2018, 11 in both 2015 and 2016, and seven in 2023. Volusia County reported five cases in 2023 and three in 2024, while Polk County had three cases in 2024.
The 2026 preliminary cases involved residents of Brevard, Charlotte, Duval, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia counties. State health officials note that cases are assigned to the county where a patient lived when the disease was identified, regardless of where the person was exposed, became ill, was hospitalized, or received a diagnosis.
Researchers have investigated whether Hansen's disease (search) is becoming endemic—or consistently present—in parts of Central Florida. Because the disease can take years or even decades to produce noticeable symptoms, the county where a case is recorded does not necessarily identify where or when exposure occurred.
Transmission and Environmental Factors
Hansen's disease (search) is caused primarily by the slow-growing bacterium Mycobacterium leprae (search), which can affect the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and lining of the nose. Florida health officials emphasize that the disease does not spread easily, with approximately 95% of people possessing natural immunity. Person-to-person transmission is believed to require prolonged, close contact with an untreated patient and is not thought to spread through casual contact such as shaking hands, sitting next to someone, or briefly sharing a room.
Nine-banded armadillos, which can carry the causative bacteria, are considered one possible source of infection. However, Florida health officials describe infected armadillos as an uncommon source, and not every patient reports handling one. Researchers have also examined whether the bacteria can temporarily survive in soil, creating another possible environmental path of exposure.
Clinical Presentation and Treatment
Symptoms of Hansen's disease (search) may include light, red, or discolored patches of skin; numbness or loss of sensation; thick, stiff, or dry skin; painless ulcers; muscle weakness or paralysis; enlarged nerves; eye problems; and loss of eyebrows or eyelashes. The disease is curable with a combination of antibiotics, although treatment can last one to two years. Delayed treatment can allow permanent nerve damage and disability to develop.
Data Limitations
Florida's live reportable-disease database is preliminary, and case totals can change as health officials investigate reports, confirm diagnoses, or reclassify patients. The state counts cases according to the date they were reported to the Department of Health, not necessarily the date symptoms began or a patient was exposed. The available data also do not establish that Florida's rising case count is the result of a single outbreak or a common source.
Despite the increase, the overall number remains small in a state with more than 23 million residents. Health officials maintain that Hansen's disease (search) is difficult to contract and can be cured when it is identified and treated.