Squirrels could have spread leprosy in medieval England, surprising study finds
Winchester, England – Research suggests that humans may have contracted leprosy from squirrels during medieval times. A recent study conducted in Winchester, southern England, analyzed human and red squirrel bones from archaeological sites and found closely related strains of the bacteria that causes leprosy. Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease affecting skin, nerves, and mucous membranes, has not been documented in the UK for 70 years but remains prevalent in various parts of the world. Armadillos …