US CDC Issues Alert About Biblical Disease in Southern State
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cases of the infectious disease of leprosy have become more common in Florida in recent years, and some health officials believe that the ancient disease may now be endemic in the state. The federal health agency stated in a report that about one-fifth of all leprosy cases in the United States are found in central Florida and that about 81 percent of all cases in the country are located in Florida. King Baldwin IV of the 2005 historical drama film 'Kingdom of Heaven'. Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease also known as Hansen’s disease, is caused by the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria and has appeared in literature and religious texts—notably the Bible—since ancient times. It affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. Within the United States, leprosy has historically been uncommon, and most cases came from individuals who had recently emigrated to the country. Bu...