JOURNAL ARTICLE

Oldest malaria cases reveal how humans spread the disease across the globe.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2024. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Curry, Andrew 3 of 3

Abstract

A recent study published in Nature has used ancient DNA to trace the history of malaria and its spread across the globe. The researchers identified 36 cases of malaria, ranging from a man who died 5600 years ago in Germany to soldiers buried in Belgium in the early 1700s. The study also found the earliest known case of malaria in South America, dated to about 1600 C.E., suggesting that European colonists introduced the disease to the New World. The research provides compelling evidence that diseases migrate with humans and highlights the role of specific human events, such as colonialism, in spreading infectious diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2024/06, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2024
  • Accession Number:177841058
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