Scientists confirmed Yersinia pestis, later behind the Black Death, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago.
They traced the bacterium to its epicentre for the first time, uncovering direct evidence of the outbreak.
Researchers found Yersinia pestis in a mass grave beneath Jerash’s ancient ruins in Jordan.
Lead author Rays HY Jiang said the discovery provides the first genetic insight into the empire’s pandemic.
How the Justinian Plague Spread
The Justinian Plague began in 541 CE and swept across the eastern Mediterranean and Byzantine Empire.
Historians estimate it killed 15 to 100 million people over two centuries of recurring outbreaks.
Scientists confirmed Yersinia pestis caused the plague, the same bacterium behind the Black Death.
Fleas infesting rodents, especially rats near humans, spread the bacterium, and it also transmits pneumonically between people.
DNA Unlocks Ancient Pandemic Mystery
Researchers examined eight teeth recovered from burial chambers beneath Jerash’s Roman hippodrome using advanced DNA methods.
The DNA revealed nearly identical strains of Yersinia pestis, confirming the bacterium’s presence between 550 and 660 AD.
Findings indicate a rapid, deadly outbreak, consistent with historical accounts of mass fatalities.
Jiang explained the site shows urban centres became overwhelmed, turning entertainment venues into emergency cemeteries.
Yersinia Pestis Remains a Global Threat
Related studies show Yersinia pestis circulated among humans for millennia before the Justinian Plague.
Later pandemics, including the Black Death and modern cases, emerged independently from animal reservoirs.
Jiang warned the bacterium continues to evolve, and containment cannot eliminate it, so the threat persists today.
