Leprosy and Armadillos: Separating Fact from Fiction

The bacteria that causes leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae, has been found in armadillos in the southern United States. However, there is no evidence that armadillos can transmit leprosy to humans. Leprosy is spread through close contact with an infected person or by inhaling droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze.