Something's Going on in the Sunshine State

No, it's not syphilis, though it was treated with mercury like syphilis 500 years ago. In fact, it is likely that before conclusive testing was developed that some cases of this disease were mistaken as syphilis which is interesting considering the difference in symptoms both in the short and long term. 

Before conclusive testing was available, how were people with this disease identified? Around 800 years ago persons infected with the bacteria that causes leprosy, also called lepers, were forced to wear defining clothes and wear or carry bells to announce their presence. In advanced cases it was obvious who had been infected as the disease is characterized by lesions and patchy skin in early development and missing limbs as the disease progresses. Surprisingly, leprosy does not directly cause body parts to fall off - that effect is all indirect. Leprosy negatively affects the nerves and after a while will interfere with the pain receptors. The infected person no longer feels pain and if injured more often than not they do not notice, especially if the injury is healing and agitated open again. Eventually the injury gets worse and worse until the limb dies or has to be removed due to a secondary infection. Hence, prior to modern medicine leprosy was a death sentence to those infected. Today a person with leprosy has treatment options beyond quarantining and allowing the disease to run its course. Unfortunately, these treatments are long term and depend on what strain of Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis they are infected with. 

So, good news and bad news for the people who are impacted by the rise in cases seen in the state of Florida. As of August 2nd there have been 15 reported cases according to the CDC, but with how infectious it is and how difficult it is to treat that may be 15 cases too many. Especially since leprosy is zoonotic, meaning it can be passed from animals to humans (hint: don't touch the armadillos). Leprosy is transferred via contact with someone (or something) that is infected via the respiratory tract. It has also been observed to be transmitted via skin to skin contact as well, but primarily it appears to travel via the respiratory tract. That's right, more likely than not those who are infected have been exposed to it via inhalation. Luckily, once someone has begun treatment for leprosy, they are considered to be non-infectious after 72 hours. Since it is characterized by skin lesions, in the summertime it should be fairly obvious who might have been infected with it, but if you needed an excuse to stay inside here it is. 

Arbitrage Trade Assist trades for you while you sleep. Check it out today at http://arbitragetrade.com