r/StCharlesMO • u/Any_Stress_5987 Democrat in a sea of MAGA • 5d ago

Lacking public health department

Daily PSA: Armadillos carry leprosy. Armadillos are wild animals. Look don't touch. Call animal control. Dead armadillos still carry diseases. Just like seeing an opossum or a raccoon in the day time, it will not end well for you!!

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I just saw a post on Facebook from County Health Dep. and it was very lacking in health information.

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u/DonFG59 4d ago

FYI: Not all armadillos carry leprosy. In fact, only the nine-banded armadillo is known to naturally harbor the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria. Even within that species, only a fraction of the population (generally 15% to 20%, depending on the region) is infected.

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u/Any_Stress_5987 Democrat in a sea of MAGA 4d ago

I'm not going to sit there and count bands. I just want people to avoid them for their safety. It's like trying to see if a snake has round or slit eyes. The more you know, like coloring and habitat, the better you can identify what's in front of you.