Plague Returned to Europe for 400 Years After Black Death

Topic: Biology

Researchers at the University of Tartu analyzed ancient DNA from plague victims and found that the disease returned repeatedly to Europe over four centuries. They discovered new reservoirs where the bacterium could persist, including in wild rodent populations.

The Black Death is a well-known pandemic that killed millions of people in Europe between 1347 and 1353. However, the plague did not disappear after this initial disaster. It kept coming back for over four centuries, causing more suffering and disruption to cities, economies, and societies.

A team of researchers led by Prof. Kristiina Tambets at the University of Tartu studied ancient DNA from the plague bacterium (Yersinia pestis) preserved in human remains. They analyzed 26 genomes from 11 archaeological sites in Estonia, Russia, England, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The samples dated back to the fourteenth through eighteenth centuries.

The researchers found that the plague did not just survive in one place and spread outward from there. Instead, it resurfaced in different parts of Europe over hundreds of years, potentially creating new reservoirs where the bacterium could persist. Estonia was particularly affected, with signs of repeated introductions of plague starting as early as the late 14th century.

The team also discovered that climate may have influenced the expansion of plague lineages around 1450-1500. They pointed to the Great Renaissance Drought as one possible factor. Changes in climate can affect outbreaks among wild rodents, which act as natural hosts for the bacterium.

Why It Matters

Understanding how the plague kept coming back after the Black Death can help us prepare for future pandemics and develop better strategies for controlling the spread of diseases.

Key Facts

• The plague returned to Europe repeatedly over four centuries after the Black Death, causing more suffering and disruption.
• Researchers analyzed 26 genomes from ancient DNA preserved in human remains at 11 archaeological sites.
• Estonia was particularly affected by repeated introductions of plague starting as early as the late 14th century.
• Climate may have influenced the expansion of plague lineages around 1450-1500, with the Great Renaissance Drought being one possible factor.
• The study used a new method called Phylogenetically Informed Radiocarbon Modeling to improve dating information for ancient disease samples.

Key Terms

Yersinia pestis

The bacterium that causes the plague.

Phylogenetically Informed Radiocarbon Modeling

A new method used to improve dating information for ancient disease samples by combining chronological information with radiocarbon dates.

Second Plague Pandemic

A period of repeated plague outbreaks that occurred in Europe from the 14th to 18th centuries.

Implications

Understanding how the plague kept coming back after the Black Death can help us prepare for future pandemics and develop better strategies for controlling the spread of diseases.