Overview

• Scientists reconstructed genomes from 36 malaria-infected individuals spanning five continents and 5,500 years.
• The study identifies trade, warfare, and colonialism as key factors in the spread of malaria.
• Evidence shows malaria reached the Americas through European colonizers within the first century of contact.
• Unexpected findings include a high-altitude malaria case in Nepal, likely contracted through trade routes.
• The research highlights parallels between ancient and modern disease spread due to human mobility.