Scientists have issued a warning about the potential for a new pandemic caused by ancient “zombie viruses” that are being released from melting Arctic permafrost due to climate change. The increasing global heating has led to more human activity in the Arctic, as melting sea ice opens up shipping and industrial opportunities. This includes mining deep into the permafrost, which covers a significant portion of the northern hemisphere. However, scientists are concerned that this activity could unleash ancient viruses that have been frozen in the permafrost for thousands of years.
Researchers have already discovered ancient viruses in Siberian permafrost, some of which are over 48,000 years old. These viruses have the ability to infect single-cell organisms, but scientists believe that there is a possibility that viruses capable of infecting humans also exist in the permafrost. Professor Jean-Michel Claverie, a geneticist leading a team studying these viruses, stated that they have found traces of many other viruses and if the amoeba viruses are still alive, there is no reason why other viruses wouldn’t be as well.
To address this potential threat, scientists are working on establishing an Arctic monitoring network to detect any early cases of diseases caused by these ancient viruses. They are also planning to set up quarantine facilities and provide medical expertise in the region to treat any cases without them spreading further. Currently, pandemic threat analyses focus on diseases that may emerge in southern regions and spread north, but little attention has been given to an outbreak that might originate in the far north and travel south.
According to Professor Claverie, Alaska has been warming twice as fast as the global average, making it a particularly vulnerable region. Virologist Marion Koopmans also expressed concern about the unknown viruses lying dormant in the permafrost, stating that there is a real risk of triggering a disease outbreak. She mentioned the possibility of an ancient form of polio being released.
While the melting permafrost is a concern, Professor Claverie emphasized that the increased human activity in the Arctic is what worries him the most. With predictions suggesting that the Arctic Sea could be ice-free by 2040, large-scale mining operations are being planned, which would involve drilling deep into the permafrost to extract oil and ores. This could release a significant number of pathogens into the environment, posing a calamitous risk to miners and potentially spreading to other regions.
The potential danger lies not only in the release of ancient viruses but also in the fact that our immune systems may have never encountered these microbes before. This raises concerns about our ability to combat new diseases effectively. Professor Claverie even mentioned the possibility of an unknown virus that infected Neanderthals making a comeback and infecting humans.
Virologist Marion Koopmans drew attention to the history of epidemic outbreaks, highlighting that changes in land use have often been a key driver. For example, the spread of Nipah virus was linked to fruit bats being displaced from their habitats due to human activities. Similarly, monkeypox has been associated with urbanization in Africa. The Arctic is now undergoing a significant change in land use, which could be dangerous, as seen in other parts of the world.
In conclusion, the melting Arctic permafrost poses a potential threat of releasing ancient “zombie viruses” that could lead to a new pandemic. Scientists are working on establishing an Arctic monitoring network and quarantine facilities to detect and treat any early cases. However, the increasing human activity in the Arctic, particularly large-scale mining operations, is what concerns experts the most. The release of pathogens from deep within the permafrost could have calamitous effects, especially if humans have never encountered these viruses before. The history of epidemic outbreaks linked to changes in land use serves as a warning for the potential dangers in the Arctic region.