Preacherman
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From the Brownsville Herald, TX (http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_more.php?id=68860_0_10_0_M):
Valley leprosy rates higher than state
BY SARA INÉS CALDERÓN
The Brownsville Herald
January 15, 2006 ¡X Leprosy is more widespread in some places in the Rio Grande Valley than the rest of the state, and it could be coming at the hands, or paws, of the most unlikely culprit, according to state and health officials.
"Armadillos in Louisiana and Texas harbor very high rates of leprosy infection" said Dr. Richard Truman, the director for the National Hansen¡¦s Disease Programs at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen¡¦s disease, is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. The bacteria attacks nerve endings in the body, destroying the ability to feel pain and injury and can also affect the skin, eyes, upper respiratory tract, muscles, bone and testicles, according to the National Hansen¡¦s Disease Program.
If left untreated, the disease can cause nerve damage, resulting in a loss of muscle control, a crippling of hands and feet and possible blindness, according to the program.
In 2004, the Rio Grande Valley had a 0.27 rate per 100,000 people infected with leprosy. The figure is nearly triple the state¡¦s 0.11 rate, according to statistics from the Texas Department of Health Services.
In general, the Valley has higher cases of leprosy infections than most counties throughout the state.
Despite being cited as a possible source for the higher rates, the disease has not been proven to be transmitted through contact with armadillos.
¡§We still don¡¦t really have a good handle on how the disease is transmitted, but we can treat leprosy quite effectively nowadays. We put people on multi-drug therapy,¡¨ Truman said.
Again, there¡¦s a lot that is not fully understood about leprosy, he said, such as the connection to armadillos.
¡§There are very high rates of infected armadillos in Louisiana and Texas,¡¨ Truman said. ¡§One out of five armadillos appear to be infected.¡¨ Truman said. ¡§ƒÄhat¡¦s a lot compared to the rest of the country.¡¨
Armadillos in the Valley and within 60 miles of the coast have a 20 percent rate of being infected, which is huge, Truman said. In addition to being infected, the bacteria proliferate within the armadillos¡¦ bodies to great extents, he said.
Once you get past 60 miles of the coast, the rates of infection for armadillos decrease dramatically, which may affect the rates in humans. Truman speculated that certain climactic conditions along the coast favors leprosy infection in armadillos.
¡§People probably can get it from armadillos because the level in armadillos is so extreme,¡¨ he said.
Hansen¡¦s Disease is a ¡§enigmatic¡¨ disease, Truman said. Many facets of the disease are still unknown, one of which is transmission and another is the possibility of relapses or reinfections.
Leprosy has been in South Texas since the early 1700s, mostly likely introduced by the migration of people from Europe and Africa, Truman said.
According to a report released by the National Hansen¡¦s Disease Programs last year, Texas and Louisiana have historically had more reported cases of leprosy than any other state. Last year, Texas was the No. 1 state with native born reported cases, 10, with Louisiana coming in second with four.
How leprosy is spread is still a mystery, despite centuries of research, Truman said. The disease is believed to be spread through the air.
The chances of getting the disease are greater if the person is in close contact with another person for a long period of time.
But, just being in contact with someone with leprosy doesn¡¦t mean you will catch it either. An estimated 95 percent of the world¡¦s population is believed to have a natural immunity to the bacteria that causes leprosy, Truman said.
¡§About 95 percent of the world¡¦s population is naturally immune to the infection,¡¨ he said. ¡§It is a very rare infection. ¡K The majority of new cases are unable to establish ever really having come in contact with someone who has leprosy.¡¨
While it can¡¦t be said for sure whether armadillos affect human leprosy, Truman said you could ¡§speculate that armadillos and people are exchanging¡¨ the disease.
This does not mean that armadillos are a public health risk, however, he said. More than anything, individuals who may be exposed to armadillos should take extra precautions.
¡§Anything you do that increases your direct exposure to armadillos would increase your exposure and contact with M. leprae (leprosy) in certain regions of Texas,¡¨ he said.
There are between 35 and 40 native-born Americans who acquire leprosy every year in Texas and Louisiana, Truman said. The rate of infection is somewhat higher for immigrants, he said.
According to the previously mentioned report, what was described as white Hispanics comprises the largest ethnic group of leprosy cases in 2004, with 36.6 percent of the reported cases. The report continued that white Hispanics cases would continue to be the largest ethnic group reported annually.
The report said that since the majority of new cases are reported in foreign-born persons, and Mexico has the highest number of reported cases, Hispanics tend to have higher numbers than other ethnic groups.
In 2004, there were 25 reported cases within the U.S. from native born persons and 24 from Mexico.
¡§We do not know the factors that underlie susceptibility to leprosy,¡¨ Truman said. Genetics, acquired or adapted immunity, and climate may play a factor, making Hispanics more susceptible, he said.
The cutting edge of leprosy research is studying genomes, which allow scientists to track specific strains of the bacteria and following its behavior.
¡§If we are able to eradicate leprosy, we have to know how it is transmitted,¡¨ Truman said. ¡§With these techniques, we are able to look at different strains and see how it is moving and see if it is transmitted between armadillos and human beings.¡¨
Valley leprosy rates higher than state
BY SARA INÉS CALDERÓN
The Brownsville Herald
January 15, 2006 ¡X Leprosy is more widespread in some places in the Rio Grande Valley than the rest of the state, and it could be coming at the hands, or paws, of the most unlikely culprit, according to state and health officials.
"Armadillos in Louisiana and Texas harbor very high rates of leprosy infection" said Dr. Richard Truman, the director for the National Hansen¡¦s Disease Programs at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen¡¦s disease, is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. The bacteria attacks nerve endings in the body, destroying the ability to feel pain and injury and can also affect the skin, eyes, upper respiratory tract, muscles, bone and testicles, according to the National Hansen¡¦s Disease Program.
If left untreated, the disease can cause nerve damage, resulting in a loss of muscle control, a crippling of hands and feet and possible blindness, according to the program.
In 2004, the Rio Grande Valley had a 0.27 rate per 100,000 people infected with leprosy. The figure is nearly triple the state¡¦s 0.11 rate, according to statistics from the Texas Department of Health Services.
In general, the Valley has higher cases of leprosy infections than most counties throughout the state.
Despite being cited as a possible source for the higher rates, the disease has not been proven to be transmitted through contact with armadillos.
¡§We still don¡¦t really have a good handle on how the disease is transmitted, but we can treat leprosy quite effectively nowadays. We put people on multi-drug therapy,¡¨ Truman said.
Again, there¡¦s a lot that is not fully understood about leprosy, he said, such as the connection to armadillos.
¡§There are very high rates of infected armadillos in Louisiana and Texas,¡¨ Truman said. ¡§One out of five armadillos appear to be infected.¡¨ Truman said. ¡§ƒÄhat¡¦s a lot compared to the rest of the country.¡¨
Armadillos in the Valley and within 60 miles of the coast have a 20 percent rate of being infected, which is huge, Truman said. In addition to being infected, the bacteria proliferate within the armadillos¡¦ bodies to great extents, he said.
Once you get past 60 miles of the coast, the rates of infection for armadillos decrease dramatically, which may affect the rates in humans. Truman speculated that certain climactic conditions along the coast favors leprosy infection in armadillos.
¡§People probably can get it from armadillos because the level in armadillos is so extreme,¡¨ he said.
Hansen¡¦s Disease is a ¡§enigmatic¡¨ disease, Truman said. Many facets of the disease are still unknown, one of which is transmission and another is the possibility of relapses or reinfections.
Leprosy has been in South Texas since the early 1700s, mostly likely introduced by the migration of people from Europe and Africa, Truman said.
According to a report released by the National Hansen¡¦s Disease Programs last year, Texas and Louisiana have historically had more reported cases of leprosy than any other state. Last year, Texas was the No. 1 state with native born reported cases, 10, with Louisiana coming in second with four.
How leprosy is spread is still a mystery, despite centuries of research, Truman said. The disease is believed to be spread through the air.
The chances of getting the disease are greater if the person is in close contact with another person for a long period of time.
But, just being in contact with someone with leprosy doesn¡¦t mean you will catch it either. An estimated 95 percent of the world¡¦s population is believed to have a natural immunity to the bacteria that causes leprosy, Truman said.
¡§About 95 percent of the world¡¦s population is naturally immune to the infection,¡¨ he said. ¡§It is a very rare infection. ¡K The majority of new cases are unable to establish ever really having come in contact with someone who has leprosy.¡¨
While it can¡¦t be said for sure whether armadillos affect human leprosy, Truman said you could ¡§speculate that armadillos and people are exchanging¡¨ the disease.
This does not mean that armadillos are a public health risk, however, he said. More than anything, individuals who may be exposed to armadillos should take extra precautions.
¡§Anything you do that increases your direct exposure to armadillos would increase your exposure and contact with M. leprae (leprosy) in certain regions of Texas,¡¨ he said.
There are between 35 and 40 native-born Americans who acquire leprosy every year in Texas and Louisiana, Truman said. The rate of infection is somewhat higher for immigrants, he said.
According to the previously mentioned report, what was described as white Hispanics comprises the largest ethnic group of leprosy cases in 2004, with 36.6 percent of the reported cases. The report continued that white Hispanics cases would continue to be the largest ethnic group reported annually.
The report said that since the majority of new cases are reported in foreign-born persons, and Mexico has the highest number of reported cases, Hispanics tend to have higher numbers than other ethnic groups.
In 2004, there were 25 reported cases within the U.S. from native born persons and 24 from Mexico.
¡§We do not know the factors that underlie susceptibility to leprosy,¡¨ Truman said. Genetics, acquired or adapted immunity, and climate may play a factor, making Hispanics more susceptible, he said.
The cutting edge of leprosy research is studying genomes, which allow scientists to track specific strains of the bacteria and following its behavior.
¡§If we are able to eradicate leprosy, we have to know how it is transmitted,¡¨ Truman said. ¡§With these techniques, we are able to look at different strains and see how it is moving and see if it is transmitted between armadillos and human beings.¡¨
I just stayed out and watched.
