Florida Reports Record High in Leprosy Cases: Locations Revealed

WHO:

WEAR-TV - Florida Department of Health reported the cases of Hansen’s disease, commonly known as leprosy.

WHAT:

WEAR-TV - Florida reported 36 cases of Hansen’s disease in 2025, surpassing the previous high of 29 cases in 2015.

WEAR-TV - Of the 36 patients in 2025, 27 were believed to have acquired the infection in Florida, one elsewhere in the United States, and three outside the country. The source of infection was unknown in five cases.

WEAR-TV - As of mid-July 2026, 17 additional cases had been reported across Florida.

WHERE:

WEAR-TV - The 2026 cases involved residents from Brevard, Charlotte, Duval, Highlands, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, and Volusia counties.

WEAR-TV - Hansen’s disease remains rare in Palm Beach County, which reported one case in 2024 and one in 2023.

WEAR-TV - St. Lucie County reported its only case in 2019, while Martin County reported two cases in 2016 but none in the following eight years.

WHEN:

WEAR-TV - The finalized Florida Department of Health records are available through 2024.

WHY:

WEAR-TV - Researchers are investigating whether Hansen’s disease is becoming endemic in parts of Central Florida.

HOW:

WEAR-TV - Hansen’s disease is caused primarily by the slow-growing bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, which can affect the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and lining of the nose.

WEAR-TV - The disease does not spread easily; approximately 95% of people have natural immunity, and person-to-person transmission is believed to require prolonged, close contact with an untreated patient.

(UPDATED August 3, 2026 13:00 UTC)

Florida has reported a significant rise in cases of Hansen’s disease, commonly known as leprosy, with 36 cases documented in 2025, surpassing the previous record of 29 cases in 2015. As of mid-July 2026, an additional 17 cases have emerged across various counties, including Brevard, Miami-Dade, and Orange, while researchers are exploring whether the disease is becoming endemic in parts of Central Florida. Hansen’s disease is caused by the slow-growing bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the skin and nerves, and it is important to note that about 95% of people have natural immunity, making transmission rare and typically requiring prolonged contact with an untreated individual.