Warning: Red squirrels could be spreading human leprosy in the UK

‘People who are concerned about their health often focus on preventing modern illnesses like cancer, but one disease that few people give much thought to these days is leprosy. However, this disease, which was once eliminated as a public health problem, appears to be making a comeback thanks to an unlikely ally: the humble red squirrel.
Britons are being warned to stay away from these critters to avoid contracting the disease. One strain in particular shows some concerning similarities to the strain that caused outbreaks of leprosy in medieval Europe, and it’s currently plaguing red squirrels on the island of Brownsea in the UK, which is situated off the coast of Dorset. It has also been found in red squirrels living in other areas of England as well as in Ireland and Scotland.’
Read more: Warning: Red squirrels could be spreading human leprosy in the UK