Armadillo leprosy found in US patients: study

AFP ^ | April 27, 2011 | Kerry Sheridan

[decimon]

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A strain of leprosy found in armadillos has been identified in dozens of people in the southern United States, indicating the skin disease can be transmitted directly from animals to humans.

The findings are the first to confirm a long-suspected link between the disease in armadillos and humans, but are not a sign that a new epidemic is underway, researchers said.

Rather, the report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the disease, most often found in India, can originate in the United States and infect humans who hunt armadillo and butcher the meat.

"I'm sure it is not new. I am sure it has been there for really quite some period of time. It does not change the risk," lead study author Richard Truman of Louisiana State University told AFP.

"What we are really doing right now is being able to recognize and prove it does occur."

[Christian Engineer Mass]

“humans who hunt armadillo and butcher the meat”

W H Y ?

[DallasDeb]

People in Louisiana swamps eat anything.

[digger48]

[DeskCaptain]

That’s what I was wondering too, WHO eats armadillo meat? Sounds like a nasty illness too.

[JRandomFreeper]

I remember being told about this back when I was a kid, mumblety mumble years ago.

I was going to ask if journalists fact checked anymore, but that question is so stupid I smacked my own forehead.

BTW, armadillo is good eats. Not nearly as greasy as 'possum.

/johnny

[Alice in Wonderland]

My grandkids found one on my property not too long ago.

[jonascord]

On Rigel 4, there is a race of armadillos that make matching suit case sets out of human skins...

[AlexW]

“People in Louisiana swamps eat anything.”

It is not just for Louisiana anymore.
I grew up, and spent almost 60 years in west Tennessee.

I had never seen an Armadillo outside of a zoo, until
about 1990, when they started turning up everywhere.
They were really bad about rooting up the yard, and
it became common to see dead ones all over the highways.

[fso301]

I remember those things from back when we lived in Louisiana. They tear up your lawn at night and seem to be attracted to highways

[CGASMIA68]

probly caus there aint no publix near bouts to grab sum berger!

[CGASMIA68]

Possum on the Half Shell

[maine yankee]

First thought-

Use a condom

[CGASMIA68]

imbedded armidilo,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1RgUO5E9fw

[cripplecreek]

I’ve heard that they’re born dead by the road like possums.

[Joe 6-pack]

While it's the sort of thing I'd be perfectly happy seeing cut from the fedguv's budget, the National Hansen's Disease Museum in Carville, LA is actually a fascinating place. Up until the 50's the NHS quarantined leprosy patients in a handful of such places around the country. When the disease finally became treatable on an outpatient basis (largely as a result of research using armadillos) the internees were given the option of leaving or, for those who had never lived or worked in the outside world and/or whose families had abandoned them, they were given the option of remaining at Carville. If I'm not mistaken, there are still a handful of Hansen's patients living there on the compound that houses the museum and is administered by the LA National Guard.

[KantianBurke]

If there is an eager market for armadillo all the while a concern over the safety of the meat, why not start an armadillo farm? Sounds like a unique business opportunity to me.

[Have Ruck - Will Travel]

You beat me to it!!! Good eatin dat is...

Oh well, at least we still have crawdads and frog legs. and jambalaya... and po’boys... and gumbo... and etouffee...
(I gotta stop now, I’m making myself hungry and there ain’t a decent restaurant in sight)

[decimon]

Interesting. Thanks.

It would be good to see ‘leper colony’ become some obscure term people have to research to understand.

[decimon]

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