The medieval [b]Black Death[/b] led to better health for future generations, according to an analysis of skeletons in London cemeteries. [s]BBC News[/s] reports that the study shows improvements in health only occurred because of the death of huge numbers of people. It is evidence of how infectious disease has the power to shape patterns of health in populations, said Dr Sharon DeWitte of [b]South Carolina University[/b]. The bacterium that caused the Black Death, [i]Yersinia Pestis[/i], has evolved and mutated, and is still killing today, with the modern day disease is spread to humans either by the bite of infected fleas or when handling infected rodents.
[link url=http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27293220]Full BBC News report[/link]
[link url=http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0096513&representation=PDF]PLOS ONE article[/link]