Tag

Plague

All articles tagged with #plague

archaeology22 days ago•45 min saved

Ancient Siberian plague outbreaks traced to Lake Baikal hunter-gatherers via ancient DNA

A Nature study of ancient DNA from 46 individuals buried near Lake Baikal reveals two previously unknown Yersinia pestis strains, indicating two plague outbreaks about 5,600–5,300 and 5,100–4,900 years ago among hunter-gatherers. About 40% of the individuals carried plague DNA, suggesting significant mortality in small communities likely caused by pneumonic plague transmitted person-to-person; marmots may have been the reservoir. This pushes plague's emergence far earlier than previously thought and shows epidemics affected hunter-gatherer groups before farming communities appeared.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|

#ancient-dna #archaeology #hunter-gatherers

science24 days ago•10 min saved

Ancient Siberian Plague Reveals Earliest Outbreak Linked to Hunter-Gatherers

DNA from teeth at four Siberian cemeteries shows Yersinia pestis in victims dating to about 5,500 years ago, making this the oldest known plague outbreak and indicating that hunter-gatherers near Lake Baikal were devastated before farming communities. The early strain lacked later virulence genes but was still deadly, likely spreading pneumonically and disproportionately affecting children; burial patterns suggest the disease spread within families along the Angara River, challenging the idea that plague only emerged with agriculture.

via Ars Technica|

#ancientdna #archaeology #lake-baikal

science24 days ago•16 min saved

DNA from Ancient Siberian Graves Reveals Earliest Plague Outbreaks

Ancient DNA from teeth of 46 hunter-gatherers buried near Lake Baikal, Siberia, shows fragments of Yersinia pestis in more than one-third, marking two outbreaks beginning about 5,500 years ago—the oldest known plague. This challenges the view that mass disease outbreaks began with agriculture and suggests plague circulated in hunter-gatherer communities, possibly spreading via marmots.

via The Washington Post|

#archaeology-and-anthropology #disease-outbreaks #epidemics

science24 days ago•7 min saved

Earliest plague found in 5,500-year-old Siberian graves reshapes origins

Ancient DNA from 5,500-year-old Siberian hunter-gatherer graves reveals a previously unknown Yersinia pestis strain carrying a unique toxin that likely made infections highly deadly for children and suggests plague originated in Central/Northeast Asia long before farming. The study found plague in about 39% of individuals across two cemeteries near Lake Baikal, implying possible human-to-human transmission within small groups and multiple outbreak waves, with marmots likely acting as the ancient reservoir. By combining DNA analysis, radiocarbon dating, and archaeology, researchers show these were among the oldest plague events in humans and challenge ideas about how the disease spread.

via CNN|

#ancient-dna #archaeology #lake-baikal

science24 days ago•62 min saved

Ancient Baikal Plague Outbreaks Push Origins of Yersinia pestis Back to Mid-Holocene

Two waves of lethal Yersinia pestis outbreaks occurred among mid-Holocene hunter-gatherers near Lake Baikal around 5,500 years ago, with a 39% plague detection rate across four cemeteries. The Baikal strains are basal to known plague lineages and lack flea-transmission genes, implying rapid human-to-human spread (likely pneumonic) rather than flea-borne transmission. Outbreaks disproportionately affected children, clustered within tight radiocarbon date ranges, and kin groups show contemporaneous deaths, suggesting swift transmission within mobile communities. These findings push the plague’s origin earlier than Europe’s Neolithic cases and point to longstanding marmot/rodent reservoirs driving recurrent spillovers in Asia.

via Nature|

#ancientdna #baikal #hunter-gatherers

science25 days ago•5 min saved

Ancient Siberian graves reveal oldest plague outbreak, reshaping its origin story

A Nature study of four Siberian graves near Lake Baikal, dating to about 5,500 years ago, found Yersinia pestis DNA in roughly 40% of the remains, offering the oldest evidence of plague and suggesting two prehistoric outbreaks that spread within families among hunter‑gatherers. The bacterium likely caused pneumonic plague at the time—not the flea‑borne bubonic form that emerged later—and the findings challenge the idea that the Neolithic agricultural shift was the primary driver of plague emergence, showing it could affect hunter‑gatherer communities as well.

via NBC News|

#ancientdna #archaeology #plague

health1 month ago•2 min saved

Santa Fe County reports NM’s first human plague fatality of the year

A Santa Fe County woman in her 50s died from plague, New Mexico's first human case of the year; health officials say no close contacts are symptomatic. Plague is rodent-borne and treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed early. Officials warn about fleas transmitting plague and urge flea/tick prevention for pets and avoiding contact with sick or dead rodents; the state has also reported two dog cases in Santa Fe County and one in Bernalillo County this year.

via Source New Mexico|

#health #infectious-disease #new-mexico

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Ancient DNA shows Paris-area population wiped out, replaced by southern migrants

Ancient DNA from a tomb near Paris reveals a major population replacement around 3000 BCE: the earlier Stone Age farming group was not related to the later settlers who migrated from the south. While plague and other stresses were evident, they were not the sole cause of the decline, which also coincided with social shifts away from extended family burials and the end of Europe’s megalith-building tradition, supporting a broader Neolithic decline across northern and western Europe.

via Science Daily|

#ancient-dna #megaliths #neolithic-decline

science6 months ago•4 min saved

Ancient Sheep Bone Uncovers Origins and Spread of Bronze Age Plague

A groundbreaking DNA study has identified the world's earliest known plague carrier in a 4,000-year-old domesticated sheep from the Bronze Age, revealing how the plague spread before fleas became its primary vector, and highlighting the complex interactions between humans, livestock, and natural reservoirs in ancient Eurasia.

via ScienceAlert|

#archaeology #bronze-age #dna

health9 months ago•1 min saved

Second Human Plague Case Reported in Bernalillo County, New Mexico

A 77-year-old man in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, has been diagnosed with plague, marking the second case this year with no fatalities. The disease, transmitted through fleas from rodents, can also spread via contact with infected animals. Health officials advise precautions such as avoiding sick animals, controlling fleas on pets, and using insect repellent, while emphasizing the importance of seeking medical attention for symptoms like sudden fever and swollen lymph nodes.

via KOB.com|

#bernalillo-county #disease-prevention #health

health9 months ago•3 min saved

Plague Suspected in Prairie Dog Die-Off in La Plata County, Colorado

A mass prairie dog die-off in La Plata County, Colorado, has raised concerns about the presence of plague, prompting health officials to investigate and advise the public on safety measures, as the disease can be transmitted through fleas from rodents and pets, but no human cases have been reported this year.

via KKTV|

#colorado #disease-outbreak #health

health9 months ago•2 min saved

Plague Suspected in Prairie Dog Die-Offs in Colorado

La Plata County Public Health is investigating a suspected plague outbreak following mass prairie dog die-offs, with tests pending but ongoing concerns about the bacterial disease that can affect humans and pets. Residents are advised to take precautions such as using insect repellent and avoiding handling dead animals, while authorities emphasize public education and caution against eradicating prairie dogs to prevent spreading fleas.

via The Durango Herald|

#disease-investigation #health #la-plata-county

health10 months ago•2 min saved

California Reports New Plague Case Linked to Flea Bite

Public health officials in California confirmed a case of the plague in a Lake Tahoe resident, likely contracted via a flea bite while camping. The plague, historically deadly but now treatable with antibiotics, remains rare but highlights ongoing insect-borne disease risks. Precautions include wearing protective clothing and keeping pets away from wild rodents. Early detection and awareness are crucial for effective treatment.

via yahoo.com|

#california #disease-prevention #flea-bite

health10 months ago•3 min saved

First Human Plague Case of 2025 Reported in New Mexico

New Mexico reports its first plague case of the year in a man who may have been exposed while camping, amid multiple cases across the western U.S., highlighting the importance of precautions against flea bites and contact with wildlife to prevent this rare but serious disease.

via The Independent|

#flea-bites #health #new-mexico

health10 months ago•1 min saved

First Plague Case of 2025 Reported in New Mexico

A 43-year-old man in New Mexico was diagnosed with plague after likely exposure while camping, marking the first human case in the state this year amid recent cases in the western U.S. The disease, caused by Yersinia pestis, is rare but can spread through flea bites or contact with infected animals, prompting health officials to recommend precautions such as avoiding sick rodents and using insect repellent.

via The Independent|

#health #new-mexico #outbreak