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Plague first came to Britain from Europe at least 4000 years ago

30 May 2023

DNA from Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that caused the Black Death, has been found in the teeth of three people who lived in Britain during the Bronze Age
Illustration of Yersinia pestis bacteria

An mRNA vaccine protects mice against deadly plague bacteria

30 November 2022

The bacterium Yersinia pestis causes frequent outbreaks that kill people, but a new vaccine based on cutting edge technology has shown promise in a mouse study
Issyk-Kul Lake (second biggest mountain lake in the world) in Kyrgyzstan in an autumn sunny day. Touristic area of this Central Asia country which has mountains in 80% of its territory. Snow visible.; Shutterstock ID 1551303815; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Origin of Black Death finally found in bacteria from Kyrgyzstan graves

15 June 2022

DNA from plague bacteria has been identified in graves from 1338 in Kyrgyzstan, and these pathogens appear to be the ancestors of those that caused the Black Death
skull

Earliest known bubonic plague strain found in 5000-year-old skull

29 June 2021

The bacterium behind the Black Death, which wrought devastation in medieval times, has been found in the skull of a man living 5000 years ago in Latvia – it’s the earliest known plague strain

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