Plague Was Deadlier Than We Thought | Science News

Ancient plague was far deadlier than we thought—new DNA evidence reveals it struck 5,500 years ago in Siberian hunter-gatherer groups, killing children and teens at alarming rates. Researchers found plague DNA in nearly 40% of tested remains, including a lethal toxin factor absent in later strains. This challenges old theories that early plague was mild, showing it was already devastating before flea-borne transmission evolved. The outbreak likely jumped from marmots to humans, hinting plague may have originated in Central or Northeast Asia. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913082203.htm More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/95f3796d84ba8559 Report issues to [email protected].