Our ancient enemy: scientists discover oldest-known plague outbreak

Scientists have discovered the oldest known evidence of the plague, dating back approximately 5,500 years ago. This finding pushes the timeline of plague outbreaks back by about 200 years from previous estimates. The plague has affected humans for millennia, notably causing the Black Death in the 14th century, which significantly reduced Europe's population. While still present today, the disease is now treatable with antibiotics. Researchers emphasize the importance of understanding the history of plague to comprehend human history.

Scientists have discovered the oldest known evidence of the plague, dating back approximately 5,500 years ago in Siberia, pushing the timeline back by about 200 years. Researchers found plague DNA in the teeth of 18 ancient hunter-gatherers near Lake Baikal, indicating two outbreaks. The prehistoric plague likely spread from marmots through butchery or consumption of raw organs and also person-to-person via respiratory droplets. Many of the victims were young children, and the findings suggest the plague caused both individual cases and family outbreaks. This discovery provides insights into the bacterium's evolution and its potential for future emergence.

Ancient DNA analysis of remains from late Stone Age cemeteries in Siberia has revealed the earliest known evidence of a plague outbreak. Approximately 5,500 years ago, the bacterium *Yersinia pestis* devastated sparse hunter-gatherer communities, with at least two-thirds of the deceased at two cemeteries being under 15 years old. Researchers suggest the infection likely occurred through butchering or consuming raw marmots, with the disease then spreading person-to-person. The findings, published in Nature, indicate two distinct outbreaks and suggest the bacterium emerged at least 5,700 years ago, carrying a toxic protein that made it particularly lethal for children. This discovery challenges the assumption that early plague outbreaks were less deadly and highlights the vulnerability of even small, isolated communities to the disease.