Meet the
little ally in a
big fight
against Leprosy
Meet the little ally in a big fight against leprosy
You probably don’t think about armadillos too much. You might know that they have hard shells. Or that they can roll up into a ball to escape danger. But what a lot of people don’t know is that there’s another very big reason armadillos are so important – they can get leprosy too.
Why an armadillo?
The nine-banded armadillo specifically, is one of only a few species of animals that can contract leprosy and spread it to humans. This unique characteristic made them the focus of important research into how leprosy progresses, as leprosy affects armadillos in the same way it affects humans.
Observing the disease in armadillos has paved the way for breakthroughs in our understanding of it – and how we treat it.
For its role in the fight against this awful disease, we see the armadillo as a symbol – of hope, of protection, and of a future without leprosy. It might only be small, but it’s had a big impact on the lives of people across the world still being affected by leprosy.
The search for a cure
To be clear, The Leprosy Mission Australia doesn’t engage in or fund research involving armadillos. While we focus on caring for the people in remote communities suffering the physical and social consequences of leprosy, we recognise the armadillo for its crucial role in helping us understand the disease.
Researchers have observed how the leprosy bacteria affects an armadillo’s nervous system, making the sad discovery that the disease progresses far more quickly in armadillos than humans. But, it’s by learning this information that researchers have been able to develop the current treatment that’s able to cure leprosy completely – Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT).
This treatment is, as the name suggests, made up of three different medicines. 48 hours after starting treatment, a patient is no longer contagious. On average, it takes 12 months of treatment for the patient to be completely cured. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital for preventing long-term, permanent disabilities.
Can you get leprosy from an armadillo?
There is a risk of leprosy transmission when it comes to handling armadillos, but the likelihood is very low. As armadillos are native only to South, Central, and North America, there’s little chance of running into one outside of these regions. If you do live in an area with wild armadillos, just be careful not to touch them – it’s always better to be safe, and wild animals are best left alone.
Why is there still a big fight to end leprosy?
As much as we wish it weren’t so, leprosy is still a thing.
Despite being one of the world’s oldest recorded diseases, effective treatment for it has only been around since the 1980s. In the last few years, the average number of new cases each year has sat around 10,000; the reason being that these cases tend to pop up in remote areas that are very difficult to reach. They usually don’t have robust medical facilities, so have no access to leprosy screenings or treatment. These communities get left behind, and people – many of them children – continue to suffer from the physical effects of leprosy, as well as the lingering social stigma. But even in the face of all this, there is hope.
With support, leprosy can be eliminated within our lifetime.
A disease that’s older than the pyramids, that’s mentioned in ancient texts, that’s plagued humanity for millennia, is so close to being gone. That’s why it’s crucial we honour the role armadillos have played in not only our understanding of the disease, but in the development of a cure.
Little ally, big impact
While our newest ally in this ongoing battle might be small in size, it’s made a mighty impact. The armadillo stands with us in this shared, ongoing fight against leprosy – marching towards a future free from this terrible disease. But we can’t do it alone.
Join the fight, become an ally, and help us end leprosy in our lifetime.
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