Microbiologist Jenna Capyk joins Joe, Toren, and Kevin to talk about Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy. What the heck is it? Does it cause your body parts to fall off? Are there any other animals that can get leprosy? What have we done in the past to keep lepers separate from society? All these questions and more are answered in this episode of Caustic Soda!

News update: Since recording a study strongly suggests that leprosy can transfer from armadillos to humans.

“Our research provides clear DNA evidence that the unique strain found in armadillos is the same as the one in certain humans,” said Stewart Cole, of the Global Health Institute in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Music: “Gimme Some Skin” The Andrews Sisters

Movies:

Ben Hur

Princess Mononoke

The Fog (John Carpenter)

Kingdom of Heaven

Braveheart