They should make the whole state a colony. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/leprosy-endemic-central-florida-cdc-what-to-know-disease/ Leprosy — also known as Hansen's disease — is becoming endemic in the southeastern United States, rising evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. A recently published research letter from the CDC says Central Florida accounted for 81% of cases reported in Florida and almost one-fifth of cases reported across the U.S. According to the National Hansen's Disease Program, 159 new cases were reported in the U.S. in 2020. In 2015, experts blamed armadillos, which are common in the state and can carry the disease, for spreading infections.
I've got one in my backyard. We named him Armondo. He's made a burrow in the Plumbago bush to the left of the pine tree.
Going forward, you might want to forego ongoing and close personal contact. Perhaps just a wave or nod of greeting from time to time as a matter of courtesy.
Mmm delicious armadillo. I knew about leopracy being in half the armadillos, I didn't know I was eating armadillo until I asked why the bones were strange for pork.. but it was delicious and it was well cooked. Have loads of them on some land, they occupy the ecological niche of rabbits basically here.
Mmm... Tasty leprous bacteria... They largely dine on insects so very eco. It's like the sweetest most tender pork you have ever had but the bones thin, porcelain like and strong. Beats dime bars.
That's what we pretty much do anyway. We have a separate fence set up so our bulldogs won't go over there and bother Armondo, which they love to do if given the opportunity. Armondo's daily routine is usually coming out of his burrow around 6AM and he forages in the backyard grass for bugs, but then by 7AM he disappears for the rest of the day.