# Leprosy in other animals.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leprosy-in-other-animals/696974>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 30, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leprosy-in-other-animals/696974 "2014-08-30T16:44:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leprosy-in-other-animals/696974/1 "2014-08-30T16:44:33Z")

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[Original column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1306/is-it-true-that-armadillos-carry-leprosy).

There is an [outbreak of the bacterium that causes leprosy](http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/endangered-scottish-red-squirrels-facing-4128481) in red squirrels in Scotland (already suffering from other problems leading to losing out to gray squirrels).

Note the research is credited to Professor Anna Meredith of the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies. Okaaaay.

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**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leprosy-in-other-animals/696974/2 "2014-08-31T03:34:51Z")

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> [@ftg](#):
>
> There is an [outbreak of the bacterium that causes leprosy](http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/endangered-scottish-red-squirrels-facing-4128481) in red squirrels in Scotland (already suffering from other problems leading to losing out to gray squirrels).

Off-topic, but note that that would be the Eastern (American) Gray Squirrel, America’s revenge for starlings.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leprosy-in-other-animals/696974/3 "2018-07-23T04:21:51Z")

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Bumped because the column is back on the SDMB homepage.

Cecil wrote in 1999, “Leprosy is treatable, and a vaccine (not totally effective) is currently available.” Is the vaccine any better these days?