Common Childhood Virus Detected in Iron Age Remains - Archaeology Magazine

Common Childhood Virus Detected in Iron Age Remains - Archaeology Magazine

A researcher extracts DNA from a sample in the University of Tartu's laboratory. VIENNA, AUSTRIA—According to a statement released by the University of Vienna, a team of scientists from the University of Vienna, the University of Tartu, Cambridge University, and University College London have reconstructed the genomes of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) from samples taken from human remains recovered from archaeological sites in Europe…

Common Childhood Virus Detected in Iron Age Remains

Ancient viral genomes reveal deep history of human herpesvirusesA team of researchers from the University of Vienna, University of Tartu, Cambridge University, and University College London has reconstructed the genomes of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) from ancient European human remains.Today, HHV-6B infects around 90% of children by age two, causing roseola infantum, or “sixth disease,” which involves fever and a rash. Beyond caus…