People often think of leprosy as a bygone disease, relevant primarily in biblical times. But in fact, it is still present in more than 120 countries, and the US is seeing an uptick in cases.
Museum archives hold biological specimens that have been collected over years or even decades. Modern molecular analysis of these collections can reveal information about pathogens and their spread.
Armadillos and humans are linked in the strangest of ways. Armadillos are the only other species known to get leprosy. A surge in cases in Brazil gives reason for concern there and in the US.