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Giant gerbils, not rats, to blame for Black Death

Posted by / February 24, 2015

Who didn’t learn of the Black Death, the dreaded bubonic plague that brought death to Europe in the 1300s? Also, who didn’t learn that it was spread by rats? Seemed the two went hand-in-hand but not in reality according to a new study that speculates that Giant Gerbils from Asia were the actual culprits responsible for spreading this deadly scourge. Seems they may have hitched a ride on sailing ships that traveled between the continents. Yikes. I’d not want to be in my bunk after a hard day on the seas only to awake face to face with a Giant Gerbil.

Full story here: CBC.

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Photo credit: Canva.com

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  • […] Who didn’t learn of the Black Death, the dreaded bubonic plague that brought death to Europe in the 1300s? Also, who didn’t learn that it was spread by rats? Seemed the two went hand-in-hand but not in reality according to a new study that speculates that Giant Gerbils from Asia were the actual culprits responsible for spreading this deadly scourge. Seems they may have hitched a ride on sailing ships that traveled between the continents. Yikes. I’d not want to be in my bunk after a hard day on the seas only to awake face to face with a Giant Gerbil. Read more… […]

  • shane

    I think some people like to spread a new tail excuse the pun…on a event to try and change the story… white lies? Chinese whispers….from the 1300s to now? I’m not sure…