All articles tagged with #dysentery
Shigella, a bacterium causing severe diarrhea, is increasingly spreading through sexual contact, particularly among men who have sex with men. This shift has led to a rapid rise in extensively drug-resistant strains, making the infection significantly harder to treat and more likely to require hospitalization.
Archaeologists analyzing 2,600-year-old feces found at two cesspits used by the Kingdom of Judah’s elite in ancient Jerusalem have discovered traces of Giardia duodenalis, which causes dysentery, making it the oldest known example of the parasite infecting humans. The latrines were uncovered during digs in the Old City of Jerusalem dating from the 7th to 6th centuries B.C. The discovery of the dysentery-causing parasites suggests they were widespread in the kingdom at the time. The archaeologists used biomolecular analysis to reveal its presence in the ancient feces they recovered at both latrines.
Analysis of poop samples from 2,500-year-old latrines in Jerusalem revealed traces of dysentery-causing parasites, including the earliest known evidence of Giardia duodenalis. The toilets belonged to elite households in the city during the Iron Age, and the findings suggest that dysentery was a big problem in early cities of the ancient Near East due to over-crowding, heat, flies, and limited water available in the summer. The discovery sheds light on the health of people in ancient times and the spread of disease in early settlements.
Analysis of poop samples from 2,500-year-old latrines in Jerusalem revealed traces of dysentery-causing parasites, including the earliest known evidence of Giardia duodenalis. The toilets belonged to elite households in the city during the Iron Age, and the findings suggest that dysentery was likely a big problem in early cities of the ancient Near East due to over-crowding, heat, flies, and limited water available in the summer. The discovery sheds light on the health of people in ancient times and the challenges they faced in preventing the spread of disease.