3 Nephi 17:7. Leprosy

Leprosy, mentioned in 3 Nephi 17:7, was not possible in A.D. 34, since the first known case in the Americas was in 1758.

A biologist made this claim, but neglected to note that “leprosy” is not a single disease, but a term that has been used in English to denote a number of skin diseases.  Most Bible dictionaries discuss this matter.  We can, however, add that the fact that leprosy was not known in the Americas between the time of Columbus and 1758 is hardly evidence that it never existed 1700 years earlier.