FATIMA EPIDEMICS WATCH: Deadly Plague could be ‘hiding in plain sight’, warn scientists
The bacteria that cause plague, or the Black Death, could be lying dormant in common soil and water sources, posing a serious public health risk, scientists have warned. The finding, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, could explain why plague suddenly re-emerges without warning in countries such as Madagascar and even the United States. In the middle ages the Black Death swept through Europe, killing an estimated 75 to 200 million people. It is no longer a global threat but the new research may explain its occasional outbreaks across the world.
David Markman, from Colorado State University, who led the study, said that plague is endemic in many different parts of the world and its origins are still not well understood. “The interesting and troubling part of plague, and part of the reason why there are so many unanswered questions is that it is present in many different environments – from the jungle to the desert and everywhere in between. READ MORE
