Explained: What was the Black Death, where did it originate? | Explained News,The Indian Express

Most scholars agree that the Black Death, which killed millions, was caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis and was spread by fleas that were carried by rodent hosts.

Where did the Black Death — one of the deadliest epidemics in the history of humankind — exactly originate? It is a question that has plagued historians for centuries. A group of scholars from different disciplines have now attempted to solve this much-debated mystery.

In a study published in the journal Nature on June 15, researchers have claimed that the disease originated in modern day northern Kyrgyzstan around 1338-1339 – nearly 7-8 years before it ravaged large parts of the world.

What was the Black Death?

The term Black Death refers to the bubonic plague that spread across Western Asia, Northern Africa, Middle East and Europe in 1346-53.

Most scholars agree that the Black Death, which killed millions, was caused by bacterium Yersinia pestis and was spread by fleas that were carried by rodent hosts.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-black-death-origins-7974071/

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