'Zombie' Virus Which Spent 48,500 Years Frozen In Arctic Could Spark Deadly Pandemic, Warn Scientists

'Zombie' Virus Which Spent 48,500 Years Frozen In Arctic Could Spark Deadly Pandemic, Warn Scientists

The scientists stated that the melting Arctic permafrost could release the 'zombie viruses' and trigger a catastrophic global health emergency

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 Scientists are sounding the alarm on the potential hazards posed by viruses lying dormant beneath ice caps, particularly in the Arctic. The looming threat of what has been dubbed 'zombie viruses' could trigger a catastrophic global health emergency, warns a report in The Guardian. The danger is exacerbated by the escalating temperatures resulting from global warming, causing the once-frozen Arctic permafrost to melt.

Geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie, from Aix-Marseille University, highlights the urgency of understanding the risks associated with these ancient viruses. Last year, Claverie and his team undertook the groundbreaking task of reviving some of these viruses from samples extracted from the Siberian permafrost. These viruses, preserved for thousands of years in the frozen ground, raise concerns about their potential to infect humans and instigate new disease outbreaks.

Claverie emphasizes the oversight in pandemic threat analyses, which predominantly focus on diseases originating in southern regions and spreading north. Little attention has been given to the possibility of an outbreak originating in the far north and moving southward. Marion Koopmans of the Erasmus Medical Center supports this concern, suggesting that viruses with the capability to trigger disease outbreaks, like ancient forms of polio, may exist in the permafrost.

Despite being encased in permafrost for millennia, live viruses have demonstrated the ability to infect single-celled organisms, as evidenced by Claverie's team in Siberia in 2014. Research from the previous year identified various virus strains in seven Siberian locations, highlighting their capacity to infect cultured cells. A virus sample dating back 48,500 years was also discovered, showcasing the resilience of these ancient pathogens.

Claverie clarifies that the isolated viruses were specific to amoebae and posed no threat to humans. However, the existence of genomic traces of poxviruses and herpesviruses, known human pathogens, raises concerns about the potential risks hidden in the permafrost.

One-fifth of the Northern Hemisphere is covered in permafrost, acting as a time capsule that preserves the remains of extinct creatures along with ancient viruses. The Arctic region, home to the permafrost, is experiencing temperature increases at a rate several times faster than the global average. Adding to the danger is the diminishing Arctic sea ice, allowing increased shipping, traffic, and industrial development in Siberia.

The impending threat is further exacerbated by ambitious mining operations planning to extract oil and ores by drilling into the deep permafrost. The release of pathogens thriving in the permafrost during these operations poses a considerable risk. Miners could inadvertently breathe in these viruses, leading to potentially calamitous consequences for global health. The urgent need for comprehensive research and proactive measures to mitigate these risks is evident as the Arctic undergoes unprecedented changes due to climate-related impacts.

Credit: Cnn 18 News Link:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkH4sggnKRo