https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/a-deadly-outbreak-of-plague-nearly-5-000-years-before-the-black-deathContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/a-deadly-outbreak-of-plague-nearly-5-000-years-before-the-black-deathhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/a-deadly-outbreak-of-plague-nearly-5-000-years-before-the-black-death#u5333Sat, 20 Jun 2026 01:46:39 +0000The oldest known evidence of plague was found in the skeletons of Siberian hunter-gatherers. The disease killed members of small, mobile communities long before the rise of cities or agriculture. Young children were particularly hard hit by these early strains.What's confirmed:Ancient DNA from 5,500-year-old skeletons in Siberia shows the oldest known evidence of plague.The disease was caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria.Early plague outbreaks occurred in small, mobile hunter-gatherer communities before the existence of cities and farming.Young children and teenagers were severely impacted by t https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/a-deadly-outbreak-of-plague-nearly-5-000-years-before-the-black-deathhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/a-deadly-outbreak-of-plague-nearly-5-000-years-before-the-black-death#u3422Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:42:30 +0000Researchers identified ancient plague strains in Siberian hunter-gatherer cemeteries dating to 5,500 years ago. The disease caused rapid family outbreaks that killed many children and young teenagers. This evidence shows plague was lethal before the existence of cities or farming.What's confirmed:Plague existed 5,500 years ago in Siberia.Early plague strains were found in nearly 40% of the individuals studied.The disease caused rapid family-based outbreaks that killed many children and young teenagers.The Black Death peaked between 1347 and 1353 and killed up to 50 million people in Europe. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/a-deadly-outbreak-of-plague-nearly-5-000-years-before-the-black-deathhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/a-deadly-outbreak-of-plague-nearly-5-000-years-before-the-black-death#u2767Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:02:37 +0000Genetic analysis confirms the oldest evidence of plague, dating to 5,500 years ago in Siberia, where it devastated hunter-gatherer communities—particularly children—before the rise of agriculture or cities. The discovery reshapes understanding of plague’s origins, showing it was lethal long before the Black Death. DNA from ancient teeth and graves reveals human-to-human transmission and acute mortality rates. Researchers link the outbreak to strains of *Yersinia pestis* distinct from later, more virulent forms.What's confirmed:Plague bacteria (*Yersinia pestis*) caused lethal outbreaks among h