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When a 54-year-old landscaper came into an Orlando dermatology clinic with a splotchy, painful rash, Dr. Rajiv Nathoo took five or six biopsies. The rash was spreading from the man’s limbs to his face, but previous doctors had been stumped by what was causing it.

The biopsy results confirmed Nathoo’s hunch, a diagnosis he described as something “you read in your textbooks”: leprosy.

However, the man didn’t have the obvious risk factors that most doctors would expect with the hard-to-catch infection. So after noticing a cluster of other cases in the area, Nathoo, a dermatologist and complex clinic director for Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Clinics in Orlando, began to suspect that Central Florida could be an unexpected leprosy hotbed.

Now, his team is cautioning other health care providers to be on the lookout for similar cases in the area.

According a research letter published by Nathoo and his colleagues in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Central Florida has reported among the highest rates of leprosy in the United States.

In 2020, 159 cases were reported nationwide, compared with 200,000 new cases each year around the world, according to the World Health Organization. The new letter says Central Florida accounted for 81% of cases in Florida and nearly 1 out of 5 leprosy cases nationwide.

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Also known as Hansen’s disease, leprosy is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, which attacks nerves under the skin. Scientists aren’t completely sure of how it spreads, but most believe that it’s transmitted via droplets when an infected person coughs and sneezes. Its telltale symptoms include lesions and rashes that are numb or lack sensation because of the involvement of nerves.

Nine-banded armadillos in the Southeastern United States can also carry the bacteria, and gene studies have linked human infections to the leprosy strains carried by armadillos, although it’s not always clear how humans encounter armadillo-carried bacteria. Many patients can’t recall ever having contact with the animals.

The disease is not transmitted through casual contact like shaking hands or sitting next to an infected person. Instead, spread requires prolonged close contact with someone who has untreated leprosy over many months, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Roughly 95% of people aren’t susceptible to the infection because their immune systems are genetically programmed to resist it.

As a result, leprosy is a rare disease in the United States. Historically, most cases of leprosy in the US affect people who travel to countries with high rates of disease or who are exposed to armadillos that carry the disease.

But there are cases in which doctors never know how a person was exposed.

“In certain states, we see more cases than others. Florida is one of them,” said Dr. Linda Adams, chief of the laboratory research branch at the National Hansen’s Disease Program, a federal program that coordinates treatment for Americans who are diagnosed. “In all of these areas, we do see cases that we cannot explain. There’s been no foreign travel, for example, or no contact with armadillos.”

The 54-year-old man in the new report told his doctors that he had never left the state of Florida and had no exposure to armadillos and no extended interaction with people from countries with high rates of leprosy, though he did spend a lot of time outdoors.

About 34% of new cases between 2015 and 2020 didn’t have those traditional risk factors, according to the research letter. Instead, the people appear to have been infected locally, a finding that suggests that leprosy has become endemic in Florida, the letter says.

Experts agree that leprosy is becoming endemic in the region. But that need not cause a public health panic, said Dr. Nicole Iovine, chief hospital epidemiologist at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital. “Endemic” simply means there are regular levels of a disease in a region but not that rates are climbing, she explained.

“It’s really rare still,” Nathoo said. “These numbers are still relatively super low here. We’re not that concerned with it.”

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However, Nathoo has tracked down clinical records of 15 biopsy-proven leprosy cases clustered in eastern Orlando and Volusia County over the past five years. Fourteen of them have not traveled outside the United States, and none of them is connected to each other in any way.

Though there’s a “strong geographic predilection” for the illness in central Florida, there’s a misconception among doctors that leprosy happens either only in foreign-born people or only in those with exposure to nine-banded armadillos, according to Dr. Charles Dunn, a study author and chief resident at Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Clinics.

Since their patients lacked those traditional risk factors, Dunn believes that it’s worth dispelling those assumptions. Even though armadillos are the “textbook example,” there is no perfect vector for leprosy that the medical community can pinpoint, he added. After all, most people don’t have prolonged contact with nine-banded armadillos.

“That was the crux of our paper, to say, ‘hey, this guy walked into our clinic. We’ve diagnosed him, and when we look at our database of people in Florida, they seem to be aggregated here,’ ” Nathoo said. “That’s something to just keep an eye out for.”

Still, the cluster of potentially endemic cases in Central Florida worries Iovine. Left untreated, the disease can paralyze the hands and the feet, cause blindness, and cause fingers and toes to shorten. The infection is curable, but treatment involves a combination of antibiotics taken over a few years.

Also, a cure may not resolve things like nerve or skin damage in people whose diagnosis has been delayed, which is a common situation in the US, where doctors aren’t used to seeing the disease.

One of the challenges with leprosy is how slowly the bacteria grows. Depending on the type of infection, according to the CDC, it can take up to 20 years to develop symptoms like pale numb blotches, rashes, ulcers and lesions.

Given that delay, it can be challenging to track the source and spread of a leprosy infection. And since most doctors “will never see a case of leprosy,” Iovine said, it’s often misdiagnosed at first.

“I’m sure that patients go for months without a correct diagnosis,” she said. “I would say that’s much more the norm.”

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In the new study’s case report, the patient had clinical signs of leprosy for five years before coming to Nathoo and being screened for Hansen’s disease. Before that, multiple providers had told him that they were unsure what his condition was.

Providers who identify leprosy are required to report it to the state health department within 24 hours, after which the National Hansen’s Disease Program ships specialized antibiotics to their office and begins a contact-tracing process.

“The symptoms of leprosy are often missed, and so it’s just not on the dermatologist’s radar,” Adams said. “It’s not the first thing they think of when they see something like this.”

CNN’s Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.

One down, one more to go as skywatchers saw the first supermoon of August on Tuesday and the second one will be at the end of the month.

The first supermoon was on Tuesday, Aug. 01 and the second one will be on Wednesday, Aug. 30, the last supermoon until 2024.

A supermoon is when the full moon or new moon is the closest to our round Earth (also called a perigee). So it will be appearing bigger in the Sunshine State’s sky.

“When a full moon or new moon coincides with perigee, it is known as a supermoon. Note that supermoon is not an official astronomical term but was coined by an astrologer in the late 1970s,” Dr. Simon Schuler of the University of Tampa explained to Spectrum News.

A supermoon does not happen all the time due to Earth’s lunar sister having an ellipse or oval orbit, stated Schuler.

So at certain times, the moon is close to Earth in its orbit (supermoon) and at other times it is far away as it goes around our planet, called apogee, explained Schuler.

For Tuesday’s supermoon, the moon was about 222,200 miles/357,587 kilometers from Earth.

And at the end of the month, the second supermoon will be even closer at about 221,900 miles/357,183 kilometers.

The moon’s average distance from the Earth is 238,900 miles/384,472 kilometers.

In addition, the Aug. 30’s supermoon will be known as a blue moon; a blue moon is a full moon that happens twice in a month.

Citing TimeAndDate.com, Schuler said the next supermoon is in 2024, followed by another one in 2025. He added that there are two to four a year.

Supermoon viewing conditions

And how to enjoy watching the supermoon, Spectrum Bay News 9 meteorologist Josh Linker and Spectrum News 13 meteorologist Chris Gilson gave some advice.

“The moon will likely be highly visible anywhere in Central Florida. But, it is always better to view the nighttime sky away from city lights,” said Gilson.

Linker offered that the best locations are away from any light pollution to get the full effect, but if you can’t, don’t worry about it.

“But, a supermoon provides lots of light anyway so even in the city, it should be fairly vibrant. The later in the evening or into the wee hours of the morning will have the best chance for clearer skies,” he said.

The next big celestial events

Schuler, the chair of physics and astronomy at the University of Tampa, shared the next big celestial events to look out for.

“Other events to keep an eye on this year are the Perseid meteor shower, which is visible now but peaks in mid-August, and an annular solar eclipse, which is an eclipse when the moon is near apogee and thus does not block out the whole sun. Here in Florida, we will be able to see a partial solar eclipse with about 60% of the sun blocked by the moon. Those are the two best astronomical events left in 2023,” he said.

Fast facts about the supermoon

Boy falls from coaster at amusement park

A six-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital on Thursday with serious injuries after possibly falling out of a roller coaster at a Florida amusement park, according to paramedics. The Osceola County Fire Rescue Department responded to Fun Spot's amusement park in Kissimmee around 3 p.m. on Thursday after receiving reports that a child had fallen from a ride, a spokesperson told FOX 35 in a statement on Friday. A six-year-old boy was found "with traumatic injuries" about 20 feet beneath the ride's track.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A six-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital on Thursday with serious injuries after possibly falling out of a roller coaster at a Florida amusement park.

The Osceola County Fire Rescue Department responded to Fun Spot's amusement park in Kissimmee, Florida around 3 p.m. on Thursday after receiving reports that a child had fallen from The Galaxy Spin roller coaster, a spokesperson told FOX 35 in a statement on Friday. A six-year-old boy was found "with traumatic injuries" about 20 feet beneath the ride's track.

He was transported to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, officials said. An update on the child's condition was not immediately known.

"The department is aware of the incident and we’re currently investigating. The ride is closed pending the outcome of the investigation," the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement to FOX 35. That agency is responsible for inspecting most attractions and rides in Florida.

In a statement late Friday, Fun Spot America confirmed that an "an unfortunate incident happened on the Galaxy Spin Roller Coaster that resulted in a child being injured," and said "our thoughts and prayers are with the child and their family, and we pray for a speedy recovery."

Fun Spot's statement did not elaborate on how the child was injured or ended up on the ground. FOX 35 has reached out to Fun Spot's spokesperson for clarification.

"The safety of our guests is our number one priority. We are working with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the manufacturer to investigate the incident. The FDACS has inspected the ride and found it to be in normal operating condition with no mechanical issues. They also found the ride was operated following all safety procedures and guidelines outlined by the manufacture and industry standards," Fun Spot's statement read.

The Galaxy Spin is a wild mouse-style coaster that takes riders around sharp corners and tight turns with a couple drops along the way. Each cart seats up to four people.

Fun Spot said the ride is closed pending the investigation and would not reopen "until we are 100% sure this will not happen again." There are two Fun Spot amusement parks in Florida – Orlando and Kissimmee – and a third in Atlanta, Georgia.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Florida is one of the top states with the most new leprosy cases in the country, according to a new research letter from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“There definitely is leprosy in the United States,” said Dr. Nicole Iovine, chief hospital epidemiologist and an infectious disease physician at the University of Florida.

For many, leprosy may seem like a problem from biblical times. But Iovine said the disease is very much still around. In fact, the CDC letter said leprosy could now be endemic in Central Florida.

“Endemic means something that is circulating and is present at all times. And it can be at a low level,” said Iovine.

The CDC letter cites research from the National Hansen’s Disease Program that lists these as the states that had the most new leprosy cases in 2020:

The list of states was based on data from 2020 which is the most recent year for which data is available.

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So far this year in Florida, there have been 15 confirmed cases of leprosy, according to state data. Most of those cases are in Brevard County.

In fact, Brevard County has seen the most new leprosy cases in the state since 2011. And in 2020, Brevard accounted for over 12% of all new leprosy cases in the nation.

What happens if someone contracts leprosy?

Iovine said there are two main presentations of leprosy.

“One of them is where a person develops these pigmented lesions on the skin. They can be scaly. They could happen anywhere on the body. Sometimes they'll be like bumps, like nodules as well,” she said.

The other presentation is more dramatic.

“Somebody has many, many of these nodular lesions on their face, the bridge of their nose to collapse. It can be very disfiguring on the hands, the ears,” she said.

Iovine said leprosy is distinctive from a typical rash because it causes a loss of feeling in the area.

“If you have something that's like a few centimeters on your arm and you can't feel it, that's going to be different from a typical rash, which is going to be itchy,” she said.

So how does someone contract leprosy?

Iovine said usually armadillos are to blame.

“You need to have physical contact with an infected armadillo,” she said. “If there is aerosolization. So let's say you're running some kind of farming equipment, and you run over a bunch of armadillos that can get aerosolized so you can inhale it.”

She said leprosy can also spread from person to person if there is contact with an infected person's skin lesion, but that is less common in the U.S.

“Direct contact with the person who has active lesions and potentially wearing their clothing,” Iovine said. “But again, those are exceedingly rare in the United States.”

Iovine added that it would have to prolonged contact, not casual contact like shaking someone’s hand. That is why only close household contacts could possibly be at risk.

Fortunately, there is treatment for leprosy. Iovine said antibiotics are very effective.

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ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Students in Central Florida are set to go back to school, and many events in the days leading up to the start of the school year are offering free supplies and more.

The school year is set to begin for most districts on Thursday, Aug. 10.

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Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday is also running through Aug. 6. Floridians will not pay sales tax on certain clothes, shoes, school supplies, learning aids and even computers. Click here to learn more.

And don’t miss your chance! News 6 wants your child to arrive to school in style, so one lucky News 6 Insider could win a chance for their child to be picked up by our very own Traffic Safety Expert Trooper Steve in his new patrol truck, Results-1. Click here to enter (it’s free!).

Here is a county-by-county list of back-to-school bashes, events and other stops you can visit ahead of the school year.

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If you’d like an event added to the list, please email web@wkmg.com.

Brevard County

Cocoa

Friday, Aug. 4, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the city of Cocoa will distribute backpacks and back-to-school supplies at Provost Park, located at 400 South Varr Avenue.

Melbourne

Saturday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. until supplies run out, Family of Faith Christian Church in Melbourne will host a back-to-school supply giveaway. They will also be giving away free haircut certificates.

Merritt Island

Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Merritt Square Mall is hosting a back-to-school bash. There will be a reptile petting zoo, arts and crafts, a balloon twister, an obstacle course, meet and greets, face painting, video games, stage demos, giveaways and more. It’s free to attend, though guests are asked to RSVP prior to the event.

Palm Bay

Friday, Aug. 4, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., haircuts and school supplies will be available at the Natural Shades of Beauty Salon in Palm Bay. The Salon, in partnership with Right on Junk Removal, will have refreshments and a bounce house available for kids.Saturday, Aug. 5, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Palm Bay is hosting a drive-up backpack and school supplies giveaway at the church.

Titusville

Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sand Point Park’s main pavilion, Titusville. “Back to School BBQ and Backpack Giveaway” event includes free backpacks, haircuts, food and entertainment. Children must be present to receive backpacks.

Flagler County

Palm Coast

Sunday, Aug. 6, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Church on the Rock will be having a back-to-school family event. They will be giving away backpacks with school supplies and raffle prizes. Come see your favorite local vendors like Cupcake Cafe, Kona Ice, and Sandaline Treats. There will also be a bike giveaway, bouncy house and more! Bring the whole family!

Lake County

Howey-in-the-Hills

Saturday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Free haircuts and treats at Balayaged Beauty

Marion County

Ocala

Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocala Mall event will giveaway 150 backpacks with school supplies inside. There will also be free haircuts.

Orange County

Orlando

Saturday, Aug. 5 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Come out and join The Outpouring Orlando at Blanchard Park for food, games, and family fun! This is the 3rd Annual Back to School fest this team is hosting.Saturday, Aug. 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Celebrate back to school with school supplies, fresh haircuts, face painting and music for all to enjoy at LIV at Nona.Saturday, Aug. 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Have some fun in the sun with games, crafts, face painting, ice cream, popcorn and more at Castle Hotel on Universal Boulevard.Sunday, Aug. 6 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., C ome have fun with FamiliesOntheGo for their back-to-school celebration with games and prizes and a school supply giveaway at 2173 Liston Court Orlando, FL.Sunday, Aug. 6 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., This event is dedicated to helping the Orlando Youth and families of the community at Studio Maxx Orlando.Tuesday, Aug. 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., This “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader” inspired trivia night will award prizes to the top 2 scoring teams, plus raffles for school supplies at Twisted Root Burger in Winter Park.Saturday, Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Join us for our highly anticipated Annual Backpack Giveaway event! It’s that time of the year again when we come together to support our community and help students start the school year off right at Charity & Love on Clarcona Ocoee Road.

Osceola County

Kissimmee

Saturday, Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Caribbean Community Connection of Orlando and Carlita’s House Outreach Ministry are presenting the 20th annual back-to-school day festival at Krush Brau Park.

Polk County

Davenport

Saturday, Aug. 5, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Visit Central Florida Welcome Center will be giving away 500 backpacks to the first 500 students. There will be a school supply giveaway and ticket giveaways to Bok Tower Gardens and LEGOLAND Florida.

Seminole County

Altamonte Springs

Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 13th Annual Back to School Expo is an exclusive opportunity for parents, teachers and others to connect face-to-face with education, health and family-focused organizations and companies at the Altamonte Mall.

Longwood

Sunday, Aug. 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., This is a free community event designed to celebrate students returning to school and help parents get what they need at Reiter Park. FREE haircuts, backpacks, school supplies, and first-day-of-school photos (while supplies last. First come, first serve).

Oviedo

Saturday, Aug. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Get ready to kick off the school year in style with a school supply scavenger hunt at the Oviedo Mall.

Volusia County

Deltona

Sunday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Free Back to School Supply Giveaway at Deltona SDA Church says no registration required, simply show up and take advantage of this incredible offer while supplies last. From backpacks to notebooks pens to calculators.

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