Table 1.

Latest epidemiological and genomic data concerning dynamics of prehistoric plague and the three historical pandemics

	Prehistoric plague (2)	First pandemic (3)	Second pandemic (4)	Third (current) pandemic (1)
Dating	5,000–3,800 BP	541–750 CE	1346–19th century	1772–present
Confirmed pathogen	Y. pestis	Y. pestis	Y. pestis	Y. pestis
Geographical origin	Eurasian plains	Central Asia; East Africa?	Eastern Europe/Asia	China (Yunnan Region)
Relevant genomic observations	Absence of the ymt gene	Slight pla depletion and a 49-kb deletion in some strains	Slight pla depletion and a 49-kb deletion in some strains
Main form	?	?	Bubonic	Bubonic
Principal sources/vectors	? (Inability of fleas to transmit plague)	?	Human ectoparasites	Rats and fleas
Hypothesis for decay/control	Strains less transmissible and virulent	Loss of virulence	Loss of virulence; acquired immunity; quarantine and prevention	Monitoring of plague foci; rat control; insecticide; antibiotics; vaccines; serotherapy; better hygiene; prevention and quarantine