Plague’s Patient Zero?

HEALTH Scientists may have found the oldest-ever evidence of the plague, locked away in an 20-million-year-old flea. (Washington Post) See more fleas and other bloodsuckers in our fantastic photo gallery. Discussion Ideas The Washington Post article lists three major infections known as the plague: bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague. What is the difference? The major difference is where the infection is located. Bubonic … Continue reading Plague’s Patient Zero?

Rats Off the Hook for the Black Death?

SCIENCE What?! New evidence suggests that rat fleas were not entirely responsible for the pandemic plague that devastated Europe in the 14th century. (the Guardian) Use our resources to learn more about paleopathology and other disciplines of archaeology. Discussion Ideas Read our paragraph on paleopathology, the study of disease in ancient cultures, in our encyclopedic entry on archaeology. Does the new analysis of plague victims … Continue reading Rats Off the Hook for the Black Death?