Ancient viral DNA suggests smallpox widespread in Viking Age Northern Europe
3 institutional releases
Published in Science · View the paper (DOI)
A new study pushes back the earliest evidence for smallpox infection by nearly 1,000 years to the 7th century in northern Europe. The discovery of a previously unknown clade of the smallpox virus suggests it may have been widespread throughout Viking Age Europe.
Coverage from 3 institutions
- Ancient viral DNA suggests smallpox widespread in Viking Age Northern Europe American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Jul 23, 2020 · first to report
- Vikings had smallpox and may have helped spread the world's deadliest virus St. John's College, University of Cambridge · Jul 23, 2020
- Researchers find evidence of smallpox in the viking age University of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences · Jul 23, 2020