Diseases jumped from animals to humans with rise in farming

New research reveals how ancient pathogens, including plague and leprosy, entered human populations over 37,000 years. Scientists found zoonotic diseases emerged with farming 6,500 years ago, absent in hunter-gatherers. Human migration significantly spread diseases, impacting local populations. The study, using ancient DNA, broadens pathogen timelines and uncovers new ones, offering crucial insights into disease evolution and our historical vulnerability.