The team found a close relationship between the strains in the squirrel and the humans.
Schuenemann specializes in the genomics of ancient pathogens.
In 1384, the English customs accounts reported some 15,000 animal skin imports that werent squirrels.
A red squirrel, a known leprosy host.Photo: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto (Getty Images)
Meanwhile, 377,200 squirrel skins were imported.
Animals still host zoonotic diseases that can wreak havoc in humans (remember covid-19?).
More:How Worried Should We Be About Bird Flu Right Now?
Modern Winchester’s High Street, now with less leprosy.Photo: Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group (Getty Images)
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