Ancient Chilean DNA Traces Early Smallpox Arrival After European Contact
TL;DR Summary
New ancient DNA from two Chilean mummies dating to 1492–1631 CE links the smallpox outbreak in the Americas to European contact, with the CAM9 lineage sitting between medieval European strains and later variants, providing genetic proof of early smallpox arrival in South America.
- 'Clear Evidence': Ancient DNA From Chilean Mummies Reveals Who Brought Smallpox to The Americas ScienceAlert
- ‘This Is Very Strange’: Ancient Smallpox May Have Been Less Deadly The New York Times
- Smallpox DNA in ancient Inca mummies shows virus came from Europe New Scientist
- Ancient mummy DNA provides scientific evidence that colonization brought smallpox to the Americas AP News
- 500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the Americas livescience.com
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