Yersinia pestis, the bacteria behind the plague, is in the news after recent U.S. cases in Arizona and New Mexico—reminding us it’s still deadly.
Recent research links the 1345 volcanic eruptions to the Black Death's outbreak in Europe. Tree rings, ice core data, and historical records suggest climate change caused crop failures, prompting trade routes that inadvertently spread Yersinia pestis, leading to the pandemic. The study highlights climate's role in historical pandemics.