Oldest-known plague outbreak came 5,500 years ago in Siberia
Researchers have identified the oldest-known plague outbreak in 5,500-year-old remains found near Lake Baikal in Siberia. The study suggests the pathogen originated in Asia and was particularly lethal to children, providing new insights into the evolution of Yersinia pestis.
Why it matters
Understanding the ancient origins of the plague helps scientists track the evolution of pathogens and their historical impact on human populations.
The body of a hunter-gatherer boy estimated to have been 10-12 years old who was found to have been infected with plague and was buried in a grave excavated in the vicinity of Lake Baikal in Siberia roughly 5,500 years ago, seen in this 1989 photograph released on Wednesday. Vladimiri Bazaliiskii/Reuters
The article is a straightforward summary of a scientific study published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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