Plaque's Ancient Lineage

Plague is an infectious disease that is even an epidemic today. Other names are  used to describe this deadly disease, such as "The Black Plague" and "The Black Death". The disease is famous in history for its devastating outbreak that wiped out nearly a third of Europe's population in the 14th century. Plague is a form of bacterial infection that causes buboes, swelling of the lymph nodes.  The bacterium responsible for the infection is known as Yersinia pestis.

According to genetic study, the pedigree of Yersinia pestis is not only ancient, but dramatic as well. As it has killed many people and is still present today. By the researchers' calculation and detailed family tree of the bacterium, the youngest strands evolved more than 210 years ago and have spread to the U.S.A., South Africa, Europe, China and more countries. Also, based on the historical travel of this disease, even before the Black Death had taken place, the plague spread from China to Western Asia, and then into Europe along the Silk Route trade route. So, this means that the microbe responsible for the plague evolved in or around China more than 2,600 years ago.

Even in America, the historical data indicates that the plague was brought over from Hong Kong on a single import ship that docked in Hawaii before its arrival. The most common form of the plague is the Bubonic Plague that infects rodents and spreads through fleas that bit them. The bacterial family tree of Yersinia pestis can help researchers not only study the spread of the plague in ancient times, but find its origin as well. Additionally, it can help them tackle the present epidemic and provide reference regarding future outbreaks.