Armadillos May Pass Leprosy To Humans: Study
Earlier it was believed that leprosy is transmitted only from human to human. But researchers now have shown that Armadillos may also pass the disease to humans.
No doubt Armadillos are cute animals but Louisiana researchers have exhibited something else also regarding them.
“A preponderance of evidence shows that people get leprosy from these animals,”said Richard W. Truman, director of microbiology at National Hansen’s Disease Program in Baton Rouge.
Around 150 people in U.S. are annually detected with the disease, also called Hansen’s disease. Among these, many people traveled to countries with high rate of leprosy but some still didn’t know from where they have got it.
Leprosy cases are mainly found in Louisiana and Texas .At these places leprosy-affected Armadillos also exist.
This disease is caused by bacterium Mycobacterium Leprae and may affect nerves and limbs of patients. Other than humans, only armadillos are other natural carriers of M.Leprae. Even they are more likely to get infected with bug compared to human beings.
