[KellyAdmirer]

That is how the Black Plague in 1300s Europe started, a ship from Asia carrying infected passengers. Wiped out a quarter of the population.

[homeschool mama]

I wasn't aware that's how it began. We'll be studying that era of history soon...it's time for further research! :o)

[Morrigan]

I saw something on the black plague on TV awhile back that was really interesting. Some scientists got interested in the reason why some people survived the plague, or never got infected, despite their close contact with the disease. They researched some direct descendants of the survivors of the black plague, and they discovered that these people had (and have still) a genetic mutation that makes them "immune" to the plague. This same mutation makes these same people have a natural resistance to AIDS--despite repeat exposure, they do not contract the virus. The people that did this research conclude that many Americans carry this mutation as well, since many Americans come from European stock. Apparently this mutation is not found in any other ethnic group. Weird, huh?