Hendrik Poinar, PhD
Director of the Ancient DNA Centre,
Professor, Departments of Anthropology, Biology and Biochemistry
McMaster University

In 1346 an unknown miasma – a noxious form of ‘bad air’ – swept across the Middle East, through the Horn of Africa, and consumed Europe within five years. The Black Plague spread quickly. It did not discriminate. And it caused massive mortality. The question is: what can we learn from it, when it comes to COVID-19?

Hendrik Poinar, director of the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, highlights parallels and differences between past pandemics and the current one we are all living through.

“Today, genomic epidemiology is unprecedented,” explains Poinar. Yet many of the same fears persist. “Plagues are symptoms and expressions of human relationships,” he says, drawing on his research into Black Plague genetics and exploring past pandemics from the perspective of biological anthropology. Poinar’s research, which involves using ancient DNA isolated from victims of past pandemics (The Black Death and The Plague of Justinian), addresses questions about ‘what caused’ these pandemics, and how they have evolved since. His work raises important questions about how pandemics reveal global inequities, and why diseases cross borders, while cures do not.

Expert Perspectives on Pandemics: Global Health Webinar Series 2020
This free webinar series explores transdisciplinary perspectives on pandemics in the context of COVID-19. View the series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4mpz0PbgCdl1JECVD8FVhxtcHhu9gODg
or through our WebEx Platform https://globalhealth.mcmaster.ca/2020-webinar-series%20

The COVID-19 emergency presents a global challenge to our health care systems, our economy and our ways of living. In the face of this unprecedented global health crisis, McMaster is dedicated to innovation and collaboration in the discovery of solutions to help combat COVID-19.

Take part in these webinars as experts delve into topics including flattening the curve, forecasting the new Coronavirus, cultural histories and reactions to past pandemics, and the search for a magic bullet. The series is part of the Master of Science in Global Health program's global health symposium, the program's capstone project.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by attendees, participants, and speakers as part of this webinar series are those of the individuals stating them and are not representative of an ideological stance or public policy position by McMaster University or the Global Health Office.