Scientists have revealed that a plague-like deadly epidemic may have spread from Europe to parts of Asia in the 14th century, most likely transmitted from animals to humans.
Historical records show that the first documented and largest known plague outbreak occurred around 541 AD during the time of Justinian. This outbreak, often called the “Justinian Plague,” devastated vast regions, including the Byzantine (Roman) Empire, spreading across Asia, North Africa, and Europe and killing an estimated 25 million people.
Reports also highlight that two major pandemics in history—the 6th-century Justinian Plague and the 14th-century Black Death—were responsible for the deaths of a large portion of Europe’s population.
Recent scientific research has traced the earliest known form of plague back approximately 5,500 years to the Lake Baikal region in Siberia. Hunter-gatherer communities living there were affected by this deadly disease, with children and teenagers being the most vulnerable victims.
According to experts, the infection was likely transmitted through flea bites from rodents to humans, and later spread further through animal-to-human contact.
A study published in the international scientific journal Nature analyzed DNA from human remains discovered in four ancient burial sites near Lake Baikal. The analysis revealed evidence of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, the same pathogen responsible for later historical pandemics, including the Black Death.
Out of 46 human remains studied, 18 showed signs of plague infection, suggesting that the epidemic was widespread during that era. Surprisingly, a large proportion of the victims were children and young individuals.
Senior author of the study and geneticist Professor Eske Willerslev, affiliated with the University of Copenhagen and the University of Cambridge, stated that this discovery fundamentally changes existing understanding of the origins and historical impact of plague.
Researchers also noted that this ancient strain of plague had genetic traits not found in later outbreaks. These traits likely caused severe inflammation and complications in children, leading to higher mortality among younger populations.
The study further suggests that hunter-gatherer groups at the time lived close to marmots (rodent-like animals) and even consumed them as food. Scientists believe these animals were the primary hosts of the disease, and transmission to humans likely occurred while handling infected marmots or eating their meat.
Experts conclude that this discovery challenges the long-held belief that major pandemics like the plague could only emerge in agricultural or densely populated societies. Evidence now shows that even small, remote hunter-gatherer communities in forested regions were vulnerable to such deadly diseases.