So, when you think of leprosy, I’m sure you immediately think of the biblical days. Well, it has made a modern day appearance. According to 10TV, An Ohio prison inmate has been diagnosed with leprosy, but health officials aren’t concerned the infection will spread.
The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction says the inmate, whose name wasn’t released, was diagnosed with the chronic bacterial infection on Tuesday at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution. He’s now being treated at the Ohio State University hospital.
The inmate is from Micronesia, and officials believe he contracted the infection there. It can take up to 20 years for signs of the disease to appear.
The prison system’s Stuart Hudson says he’s not concerned that the inmate will spread the disease to other prisoners or staff, noting that 95 percent of humans have a natural immunity.
However, the prison system is working to identify and test other inmates who have been around him.
