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Ancient Pathogens Shaped Human Health for Millennia

7/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Ancient humans from Europe and Asia, dating back 37,000 years, carried harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, according to researchers in Australia and beyond. The study reveals that zoonotic pathogens surged 5,000 years ago with livestock domestication, profoundly shaping human health and history—an impact that echoes through time to our present day.

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Story summary

Ancient humans from Europe and Asia, dating back 37,000 years, carried harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, according to researchers in Australia and beyond. The study reveals that zoonotic pathogens surged 5,000 years ago with livestock domestication, profoundly shaping human health and history—an impact that echoes through time to our present day.