700-year-old mummy from Bolivia contains earliest confirmed evidence of strep throat bacteria in the Americas

livescience - A DNA analysis of pathogens from a pre-Hispanic mummy revealed that the bacterium that causes scarlet fever and strep throat was present in the Americas prior to European colonization.

AI Summary: Ancient DNA recovered from a 700‑year‑old Bolivian mummy has identified Streptococcus pyogenes—pathogen that can cause strep throat and scarlet fever—providing the earliest confirmed evidence of the bacteria in the Americas. Genomic analysis shows the bacterium was present well before European contact, reshaping timelines of infectious disease history and prompting fresh questions about pre‑Columbian pathogen ecology.