Dr. Norman Beatty was featured in the article, “Armadillos likely behind Florida’s increasing leprosy cases, but doctors say don’t worry” by Joana Riva (link: https://www.wusf.org/health-news-florida/2026-07-27/armadillos-likely-behind-florida-increasing-leprosy-cases-but-doctors-say-dont-worry)
Here are some quotes made by Dr. Beatty in the article:
“We have a clinic here in Gainesville focused on leprosy, and we are identifying new cases each month that have otherwise been either misdiagnosed or they’ve been having signs and symptoms for years,” he said.
The first signs of leprosy are red lesions on the skin, which are usually located on the abdomen and limbs, Beatty said. The hallmark of the disease is decreased sensation at the site of the infection.
Although most armadillos in Florida are not infected with the bacteria that causes leprosy, many of the cases in the north and central parts of the state come from direct contact with the animal and its habitat, Beatty said. A case in Manatee County is the only one reported so far in the greater Tampa Bay region.
“To stay safe, you would want to avoid directly touching the animal, its carcass or ingesting the animal, as well as avoiding soil that the animal could have been burrowing in or disrupting,” he said. “That’s really the best way someone can prevent transmission here in Florida.”
