Panama City doctor confirms case of leprosy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Panama City doctor confirms case of leprosy
The Associated Press
Published: February 4, 2016 Updated: February 4, 2016 at 03:59 PM

A man has been diagnosed with leprosy in Panama City, Florida health officials said.

Dermatologist Jon Ward reported that a patient visited his office in January with a rash that wouldn’t heal. Test results came back about a week later confirming it was leprosy, the News Herald reported.

Ward said he and the patient were shocked by the diagnosis because the condition is rare. Health officials said it’s the first case of leprosy in Bay County, located in the Florida Panhandle.

According to the World Health Organization, leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a slowly multiplying bacillus. It is contagious through close contact with people.

Read more: http://www.tbo.com/health/medical-news/panama-city-doctor-confirms-case-of-leprosy-20160204/#sthash.KkErxyL0.dpuf

[valerief]

1. Who needs universal healthcare? Leprosy for everyone in America!!!!

[JimDandy]

2. Where did he get it? That's the scary question. n/t

[QC]

3. He handled an armadillo carcass.

Many armadillos carry leprosy.

Even though they are cute, one should not cuddle them!

[JimDandy]

4. I just heard about the armadillo connection. Thanks.

When I was young in Texas, I thought they were so cute.

[QC]

6. I once saw a basket made with an armadillo shell.

It was creepy.

[Mojorabbit]

13. I have raised and released orphans for years. Only had one that was a possible with lesions

and sent to lab. Negative. They are adorable and smart. Many people who get leprosy from an armadillo ate them.

[QC]

14. They called them Hoover Hogs during the Depression

because so many people were having to eat them.

My dad's family were eating possums during that time, and not by choice.

[McCamy Taylor]

5. This is not news. There are always a few cases around.

It is one of the least contagious bacterial diseases there is, since only a small proportion of the population can even catch it. And it is easily treatable. Someone must be having a slow news day.

[jberryhill]

7. Yeah, but it's a good Biblical disease

Nobody in the Bible ever got Zika virus or Ebola.

Leprosy? Sacrifice seven birds, sit outside the camp for a while, and you're good as new.

Can you imagine how many more people would have been healed if Jesus had taught them effective treatments and care of leprosy? But, no, instead you had to go touch his garment, and it was a one-off for each patient.

It wouldn't have even needed a miracle.

Jesus heals a couple of lepers - he's God!

Jonas Salk eradicates polio? Not so much.

[JimDandy]

8. LOL Okay what are you drinking/smoking tonight?

Something got your dander up. A debate maybe?

[trillion]

10. I expect the right will use this to attack immigrants - the ones who are legal and have been living

her for decades included.

[trillion]

9. Didn't know there was a Panama City in Florida.

"According to health officials, Florida typically sees between two and 12 cases of leprosy each year. "

[Warpy]

11. The bug is in the soil almost everywhere

It's not all that easy to catch, but once someone has it, it's treatable and curable. They just need to get diagnosed.

It's not the horror it once was.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Your post is really helpful. Thank you for taking the time. n/t