In the 14th century, the Black Death or plague spread in Europe, due to which millions of people died.Shunning the numerous old claims regarding the spread of plague, new researches would shed light on the authentic reasons behind that havoc spread in the past. But now researchers have traced the beginning of the plague to a tooth.
What is bubonic plague?
The infectious disease caused by bacteria called Yersinia pestis found in animal rodents and their fleas, which can also be fatal, is called plague. Bubonic plague is the most common form of the disease that can spread among people.Pain in the groyne or armpit, swollen lymph nodes or 'buboes' are counted among its main symptoms.
Based on older research, it is also called the Black Death, in reference to the gangrenous blackening and death of body parts, such as the fingers and toes, that can accompany the disease.it is reported that from 2010 to 2015, more than 3200 cases were reported worldwide, including close to 584 deaths.
Traces of plague bacteria were obtained from the tooth of three buried women:
In the mid 14th century, the Black Death or plague spread in Europe, due to which millions of people died. Till now many types of claims have been made regarding the spread of plague. But now researchers have traced the beginning of the plague to a tooth of three women who died in 1338–1339.
What Researchers want to convey :
Researchers said on Wednesday that the earliest deaths in the epidemic occurred in 1346. They obtained ancient DNA traces of the Yersinia pestis plague bacterium from the tooth of three women who died in 1338–1339, buried in a mediaeval Nestorian Christian community in the Chu Valley near Issyk Kul Lake at the foot of the Tian Shan Mountains.This study is important because the very precisely dated burials allow for a direct study of the strain as it existed at the time of the initial emergence of the Black Death.
New findings expected to contradict numerous theories about the disease:
The findings contradict other theories that the disease, commonly known as bubonic plague, had repeated outbreaks in the early 19th century. There have been indications of its emergence in the Middle East, North Africa as well as China.
Dispelling the speculations this discovery would felicitate the understanding of Plague spread:
Along with this research, the situations that led to the Black Death will be known. Professor Johannes Krauss from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and other authors published their discovery Wednesday in the Journal-Nature. Many speculations have been dispelled by this discovery. It will help to understand how the plague spread across the world. This research would definitely help in understanding the concept of chronic diseases.
Professor Sharon indicated towards profound evidences behind plague spread in past:
Putting all the postulates behind, historians have long maintained that plague victims were buried in Kyrgyzstan cemeteries, now there is evidence for these. Professor Sharon at the University of South Carolina says solid evidence has been discovered through research. The findings of the new research are reassuring and it is possible that these people died in the earlier stages of the plague.
Many people lost their precious lives in 4 centuries:
If we talk about the old theories, then many facts are known about the spread of plague, it is also said that wherever the plague spread, the population of that place was reduced to about half. According to Sharon DeWitt, this epidemic spread throughout Europe in the year 1346. Its fear had spread even before the outbreak of the plague. Even before the plague broke out in London, large spaces were left for burial. As the epidemic lasted for about 4 centuries, in which a large number of people died.
