Remembering the terror of leprosy

[Bill in Oregon]

A friend was discussing all the armadillos she trapped last year on her farm in Missouri, and this got me thinking about these unusual critters. We've all heard that armadillos can be vectors for Hansen's disease -- leprosy -- but transmission is rare. In fact, 95 percent of human adults are immune to leprosy.
But I happened to run across this item on the CDC site, and tomorrow is the fourth Sunday in January -- and the 70th annual World Leprosy Day. Can't hurt to pause a moment and think of those who do have it -- and of the terror it brought in earlier times.

https://www.cdc.gov/leprosy/wo...prosy-day/index.html

And there were some real saints who gave all to minister to the shunned and isolated sufferers in "leper colonies," including the notorious colony on Molokai.

https://www.nps.gov/kala/learn/historyc ... damien.htm

[JimT]

There is a base in Pemba that houses lepers. I met quite a few during the years we lived there. Not something we think much of here in the western world, but it is not uncommon in many place.

[GunnyMack]

My Dad always referred to armadillos as 'possum on the half shell'

[piller]

Hands off to those who took care of the victoms.

[Bill in Oregon]

And we still tally 200,000 human cases per year; the fight is not over, but it is completely winnable with antibiotics.
Regarding dillo meat, I have now heard from three fellas who have eaten it and say it is excellent.

[JimT]

And we still tally 200,000 human cases per year; the fight is not over, but it is completely winnable with antibiotics.
Regarding dillo meat, I have now heard from three fellas who have eaten it and say it is excellent.

I met a few of the leprosy victims in Pemba. All were beautiful souls.