Multiple outlets report that researchers have identified the oldest known evidence of plague in human remains, placing the first known outbreak at around 5,500 years ago. The findings suggest the disease’s timeline extends at least about 200 years earlier than previously documented by researchers, indicating plague outbreaks are likely far older than earlier estimates.
The reports describe plague as a pathogen that has affected humans for thousands of years, with major later outbreaks including the 14th-century “Black Death,” when the disease contributed to widespread death across parts of Europe. While current evidence points to very early origins, the disease is described as rare but still present today. Modern medical treatment using antibiotics is also noted in the coverage.
Across sources, the central point is that new scientific evidence from ancient material pushes the earliest known occurrence of plague substantially back in time, providing additional context for how long the disease has circulated among human populations.
