Riddle of the Plague Survivors: Secrets of the Dead

Production Details

The Black Death’s reign of terror lasted for more than four hundred years. By culling up to 50% of the population of Europe, the Plague has guaranteed its place in the history books. Yet while accounts of the Black Death have focused graphically on those who died, the stories of those who survived have gone untold. Until now.

The Riddle of the Plague Survivors focuses on those who walked away unaffected. How could anyone survive in the face of what is described as one of the most pathogenic bacterial agents known to humankind? This 60-minute documentary traces the work of American geneticist Steven O’Brien as he follows his hunch that genes are at the heart of this mystery