1 of 1
Story summary
- Researchers identified the oldest-known plague outbreak, dating to about 5,500 years ago, among hunter-gatherers around Lake Baikal.
- DNA analysis detected Yersinia pestis in 18 of 46 examined bodies, indicating a high infection rate.
- The study shows two separate outbreaks, the first 5,500 years ago and a second a few centuries later.
- Shared graves of siblings and cousins suggest rapid person-to-person transmission, with children aged 8-12 suffering the highest mortality.
