Sadly in regions such as this beliefs and new laws are increasingly inhibiting treatments. This is a terrifying outcome in all cases but particularly with infectious diseases.

In Florida??

if all you do is read hit pieces from news/peers about how horrible Florida is, you can easily believe it's a hell hole of corporatism that rivals Haiti in its care for citizens. Ain't true, but echo chambers do their thing.

Yeah, I suppose one would have to really live in a bubble.

Forgive me if I'm out of touch, but what beliefs or laws would inhibit treatment of leprosy?

The conscience law, or the immigration law.

One day, in fact, with standard MDT.

I've actually been involved in a leprosy case investigation in a school. Everyone was freaked out, community meetings, the works. No second cases were ever identified. It really is quite difficult to spread outside of household contacts.

Similarly, the case of leprosy I myself diagnosed (off a skin biopsy that was initially thought to be cutaneous tuberculosis) had no related cases either.