Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Black Death Came From China

Teams of medical geneticists and biologists have determined that the great waves of plague that have ravaged Europe, dating back to medieval times, originated in China, according to a New York Times report.

The plagues have claimed millions of lives, and the worst wiped out an estimated 30 percent of the European population.

"The results indicate that the plague appeared in China more than 2,600 years ago," said a statement from the French Museum of Natural History that took part in the research.

It then spread toward Western Europe along the Silk Road, starting more than 600 years ago, and then to Africa, probably by an expedition led by Chinese seafarer Zheng He in the 15th century, the statement added.

The plague came to the US from China via Hawaii in the late 19th century, according to the molecular evidence.

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