Leprosy in the US of A was never very common - not common world wide, low transmission rates. Just very dire and scary.
the reason us pampered people in the 2000's don't know much about it is the same reason we don't hear about tuberculosis or typhoid very often. Antibiotics and hygiene cured many of the diseases that used to be nightmare fodder. pi
... and now critters are migrating in weird patterns and the bugs some carry aren't scared of antibiotics anymore.
- how about something less exotic (for me at least) but closer to home for many of us.
Look at the MRSA rates at hospitals within a few miles (aerosol range) of CAFO type pig farms with open manure lagoons. There may be a link between the fertilizer spray and disease transmission to people with immune issues or open wounds.