WORLD (Enmaeya News) – January 5, 2025

A recent scientific study revealed that some viruses we consider modern have actually accompanied humans for thousands of years, becoming an integral part of our evolutionary history.

An international research team found genetic evidence showing that human herpesviruses 6A and 6B have coexisted with humans for over two thousand years.

The researchers analyzed about 4,000 samples from ancient human remains across Europe, from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages. They found the viruses’ DNA preserved in inner ear bones and teeth.

Interestingly, the study showed that around 1% of humans carry these viruses in their inherited genetic material, as viral genomes can permanently integrate into human chromosomes.

These viruses, which infect 90% of children and cause roseola (a feverish rash), remain dormant in the body for life after the first infection. Ancient samples revealed that some viral strains can even pass from parents to offspring via reproductive cells, a rare trait among herpesviruses.

Published in Science Advances, the results indicate that these viral strains existed in European communities at least 1,300 years ago. Archaeological sites in Belgium showed both virus types circulated within the same community during the Middle Ages.

This study provides the first concrete evidence that HHV-6 has accompanied humans since their migration out of Africa. It shows that some viruses are not just temporary disease agents but part of our genetic heritage, evolving and adapting alongside humans over millennia.