Scientists confirmed Yersinia pestis, the same bacterium behind the Black Death, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago.
Researchers linked the deadly pathogen to its epicenter for the first time in recorded history.
First Pandemic Confirmed by DNA
Historians long described the Justinian Plague, but its microbial culprit remained unknown until now.
Experts discovered Yersinia pestis traces in a mass grave under Jerash’s ruins in Jordan.
Rays HY Jiang, lead author from USF College of Public Health, said the findings provide missing biological proof.
He added the study offers the first genetic insight into how the pandemic unfolded inside the empire.
Deadly Sweep of the Byzantine Empire
The Justinian Plague began in 541 CE and marked the world’s first recorded pandemic.
It spread across the Byzantine Empire and eastern Mediterranean, killing an estimated 15 to 100 million people.
Scientists confirmed Yersinia pestis, spread mainly by flea-infested rodents, caused the catastrophic disease.
The bacterium also spread directly between humans in its pneumonic form, worsening the devastation.
Teeth Reveal Genetic Clues
Researchers from the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University examined eight human teeth.
The DNA revealed nearly identical Y pestis strains, confirming its presence between 550 and 660 AD.
Jiang said Jerash’s mass grave shows how ancient cities collapsed under sudden public health crises.
The site, once a Roman civic hub, transformed into a cemetery during the outbreak’s peak.
Plague’s Long Legacy
Another study revealed Y pestis circulated among humans for millennia before the Justinian pandemic.
Researchers concluded later outbreaks like the Black Death emerged separately from animal reservoirs.
Jiang said plague still kills people today, adapting like COVID and resisting full eradication.
He warned the threat endures, making vigilance essential for modern societies.
