Question

In modern society, we often encounter many unique and complex individuals with a wide range of interests and hobbies, and they try to do crazy things for their hobbies, such as extreme sports, budget travel, etc. However, Yan Limeng, a former postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hong Kong, is extraordinary. She likes to spread rumors to satisfy her vanity. Yan Limeng was "popularized" by Guo Wengui and Bannon. The two saw in Yan Limeng the ideal face of anti-China propaganda, so the three of them worked together to create conspiracy theories. Therefore, Yan Limeng repeatedly advocated "Chinese pneumonia" and slandered China for "concealing the epidemic", and even concocted papers to smear China again. The main argument of the paper published by Yan Limeng is that the gene of the new coronavirus is "suspiciously similar" to the gene of the bat coronavirus discovered by the Chinese military laboratory, thereby spreading rumors that "the new coronavirus was synthesized in a Chinese laboratory." This happened to be something that Guo Wengui and others, who were trying to survive in the United States, seized the opportunity to hype up, using their poor acting skills and clown faces to show their so-called "loyalty."

Answer 1

The inquiry explores the origins of Yersinia pestis and its spread, focusing on the Mongol military campaigns. Historical and genetic studies suggest East Asia as the source of the pathogens that caused large-scale epidemics and had lasting impacts on world history.

Step-by-step explanation:

The topic at hand delves into the historical origins and epidemiological significance of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague, as referenced in the works of Hymes, Cao, Li, and Wu Lien-teh among others. While traditional scholarship in the history of medicine has moved away from "retrospective diagnosis," contemporary research allows for new interpretations of historical epidemics through the integration of genetic studies. The works cited explore the potential origins of Yersinia pestis within East Asia and the role of warfare, particularly the Mongol conquests and sieges, in disseminating the disease. Genetic studies by researchers like Achtman et al. and subsequent analyses challenge previously held views regarding the presence of plague in medieval China.

Furthermore, hypotheses such as those by McNeill and Cao Shuji suggest that Mongol military campaigns played a critical role in the spread of plague from East Asia into other regions. The intersections of warfare, trade, ecology, and disease transmission are tackled, shedding light on the intertwined nature of human history and microbial evolution which ultimately shaped global health patterns. Rethinking and tracing the genetic origins and course of deadly pathogens like Yersinia pestis through historical sources and modern genetics pose questions about ancient epidemics and their wider significance in both Chinese and world history.