Melting Arctic permafrost raises concerns of unleashing ancient Zombie viruses

Jan 24,2024

New Delhi: In a startling revelation, media reports have recently suggested that the melting Arctic permafrost may pose a significant threat by unleashing ancient 'sombie viruses,' potentially leading to a catastrophic global health emergency.

Geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Genomics at Aix-Marseille University, has expressed his concerns, emphasizing the need for preparedness to tackle this tangible threat.

Speaking to 'The Guardian,' Claverie remarked, "We now face a tangible threat and we need to be prepared to deal with it. It is as simple as that." This alarming prospect has prompted experts at the University of the Arctic, an international educational and research cooperative, to initiate efforts to establish a monitoring network. The goal is to identify cases of diseases caused by ancient micro-organisms before their potential spread escalates into an uncontrollable outbreak.

The so-called Methuselah microbes, colloquially known as 'zombie viruses,' have the ability to remain viable for tens of thousands of years encased in the frozen soil, which covers nearly 20 per cent of the Earth’s northern hemisphere. Medical professionals and scientists are particularly concerned about the deepest layers of permafrost preserving viruses that inhabited the Earth up to a million years ago, long before humans’ most ancient ancestors made their first appearance on the planet some 300,000 years ago. This situation leaves modern humans without any natural immunity against these prehistoric viral invaders.

Zombie viruses' are those viruses that can remain viable for tens of thousands of years encased in the frozen soil, covering nearly 20 per cent of the Earth’s northern hemisphere. These viruses have the potential to spread diseases, and modern humans lack natural immunity against these prehistoric viral invaders.

The deepest layers of permafrost could be preserving viruses that inhabited the Earth up to a million years ago. This time frame predates the appearance of humans’ most ancient ancestors on the planet, approximately 300,000 years ago. Consequently, modern humans lack natural immunity against these prehistoric viral invaders.

Source: Healthworld