The discovery of a schistosomiasis parasite egg in a 6,200-year-old grave in Syria may be the earliest evidence that agricultural irrigation systems in the [b]Middle East[/b] contributed to a vast spread of disease. Schistosomiasis – also known as bilharzia, snail fever, or Katayama fever – can lead to anaemia, kidney failure and bladder cancer.
[link url=http://www.health24.com/News/Ancient-parasite-highlights-humans-role-in-spread-of-disease-20140620]Full Health24 report[/link]
[link url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(14)70794-7/fulltext]The Lancet Infectious Disease article[/link]