A 3,700-Year-Old Virus Hiding in a Medieval Book Just Killed 500,000 Animals
Scientists at University College Dublin led by Louis L'Hote found sheep pox virus DNA in medieval parchments, including the York Gospels. Analysis of Bronze Age sheep teeth from the Eurasian steppes pushed the virus's history back at least 3,700 years. A 2026 outbreak in Greece killed nearly 500,000 animals.
- Sheep pox virus DNA found in parchments of medieval manuscripts
- Bronze Age sheep teeth analysis pushed virus history back 3,700 years
- 2026 outbreak in Greece killed nearly 500,000 animals
- Virus is related to the human smallpox pathogen
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