A New Study Reveals Which Rats Carried the Plague
WouterPlague is a disease caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis, and different species of rodents can be affected by it. These bacteria can then infect other animals, such as humans. Epizootics can occur in different regions, including urban areas with dense rat infestations. During this time, humans are often the most vulnerable to the disease.
Throughout history, there have been many theories about where the plague originated. Some have suggested that it began in Central Asia, spread south to the Caucasus, and traveled west through India and Persia. Others have speculated that it began in the Himalayas. Some historians have even argued that the disease originated in the eastern steppe.
Though the exact causes of the Black Death are still unclear, researchers have made progress in developing a mathematical model to help them understand the outbreaks. The researchers compiled data on the disease from the 1300s to the 1800s in nine cities across Europe and Russia. The results helped them create computer models based on historical data and contemporary field observations.
The findings in this study suggest that rat populations may have been contaminated by the plague through contact with human parasites. In addition to rats, researchers found that fleas and lice were important carriers of the disease, which could have further spread the infection. This new study is not just interesting for historians, but will ultimately aid in the search for the cause of the Black Death.
