Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis caused the Justinian Plague, the world’s first recorded pandemic 1,500 years ago.
They traced the bacterium to a mass grave beneath Jerash, Jordan, providing direct biological evidence for the first time.
Lead author Rays HY Jiang said their findings offer a genetic window into the pandemic’s epicentre and spread.
Justinian Plague Killed Millions Across the Empire
The plague began in 541 CE and swept the eastern Mediterranean and Byzantine Empire.
Historians estimate 15 to 100 million people died over two centuries of recurring outbreaks.
Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis caused the outbreak, the same bacterium behind the Black Death in 1346.
The bacterium spreads via fleas on rodents near humans and through pneumonic transmission between people.
Ancient DNA Reveals Epidemic Patterns
Scientists examined eight human teeth from burial chambers under Jerash’s Roman hippodrome using advanced DNA techniques.
DNA results showed almost identical Y pestis strains, confirming the bacterium’s presence between 550 and 660 AD.
Findings suggest a fast, lethal outbreak, matching historical accounts of mass fatalities in the region.
Jiang said Jerash illustrates how urban centres became overwhelmed, with entertainment hubs turning into mass cemeteries.
Plague Remains a Persistent Threat
Studies indicate Y pestis circulated among humans for millennia before the Justinian outbreak.
Later pandemics, including the Black Death, arose independently from animal reservoirs, not a single source.
Jiang warned that plague, like COVID, continues to evolve, and humans must remain vigilant to prevent future deaths.
