The Black Death

Bringing the plague to SicilyIn October 1347 -- 12 Genoese galleys put into Messina. Most of the crewwere already dying, and within days the locals did too“a sort of boil…the size of a lentil, erupted on a thigh or an arm, then thevictims coughed up blood… and after three days of vomiting…for whichthere was no remedy…they died…and with them died not only everyonewho had talked to them, but also anyone who acquired, touched, or laidhands on their belongings” [Friar Michele of Messina]How did the galley’s get as far as Messina? Did they really come from theCrimea, or (more likely) from closer ports.Some Genoese are now known to carry a mutation in the chemokinereceptor gene CCR5--which might increase survival times?