There are only 140,000 red squirrel's left in the UK
It was thought that the squirrels only carried the animal version of the disease, but after testing 25 red squirrel samples, researchers from the University of Edinburgh discovered that the squirrels have been carrying a different type of leprosy around England, Scotland and Ireland that could have infected the British population.
People are being urged to “avoid physical contact with the wild animals” and should “wash their hands before eating” to further reduce the risk.
“Taking sensible precautions such as avoiding physical contact with wild animals and washing your hands before eating will further minimise any risk,” said Professor Anna Meredith, of the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
“The discovery of leprosy in red squirrels is worrying from a conservation perspective but shouldn’t raise concerns for people in the UK.
“The bacteria that cause leprosy cannot survive outside the body and evidence shows that 95 per cent of all people are naturally unable to get leprosy, even if they are exposed to the bacteria that causes it.
“We need to understand how and why the disease is acquired and transmitted among red squirrels so that we can better manage the disease in this iconic species.”
The bacteria that cause leprosy cannot survive outside the body and evidence shows that 95 per cent of all people are naturally unable to get leprosy
At least 12 British people are treated for leprosy each year, after catching the disease in countries other than the UK.
Dr Andrej Benjak, one of the lead authors on the research paper, said it was important to monitor the disease in Britain and it should be included in the WHO’s global Leprosy Surveillance Programme.
"Leprosy has not been detected in the UK in decades, though we cannot exclude the possibility of rare, unreported or misdiagnosed cases that originated within the UK," he said.
With only 140,000 red squirrel’s left in Britain after a drastic decline - because grey squirrels stole their habitats - conservationists are concerned that the disease epidemic could cause further population decline.
“It was completely unexpected to see that centuries after its elimination from humans in the UK, Mycobacterium leprae causes disease in red squirrels,” said Professor Stewart Cole, of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, co-author of the study.
“This has never been observed before.”
Angela Cott, National Trust General Manager for Brownsea Island, said: "Brownsea's wild red squirrel population has been living with leprosy for at least four decades.
“But by working with the University of Edinburgh and Dorset Wildlife Trust, we hope to understand how best to look after Brownsea's wild red squirrels. Brownsea Island remains a spectacular place for people to see wildlife."