Climate change-induced melting in the Arctic permafrost is unlocking ancient “zombie viruses,” potentially leading to a catastrophic new pandemic, caution scientists.
As global heating accelerates human activity in the Arctic, with melting sea ice opening up shipping routes and industrial opportunities, including deep mining into permafrost covering a significant portion of the northern hemisphere, scientists are expressing concerns.
Plans are underway to establish an Arctic monitoring network to detect early cases of diseases triggered by Methusela microbes, commonly known as ancient viruses. Siberian permafrost has already revealed viruses, some dating back 48,500 years, capable of infecting single-cell organisms.
Geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie, leading a team that revived ancient viruses, warns that viruses with the potential to infect humans likely exist in the permafrost. Collaborating with the University of the Arctic network, scientists aim to set up quarantine facilities and medical expertise in the region to identify and treat potential outbreaks promptly.
While pandemic analyses typically focus on diseases emerging in southern regions, Prof Claverie emphasizes the oversight of potential outbreaks originating in the far north and traveling south.
The Arctic, projected to be ice-free by 2040, raises concerns not only due to melting permafrost but also the surge in human activity. Prof Claverie warns of extensive mining operations releasing pathogens into the air, with miners at risk of inhaling viruses, potentially causing calamitous effects.
The history of epidemic outbreaks often links to changes in land use, and experts like virologist Marion Koopmans stress the danger of a complete shift in land use in the Arctic. Prof Koopmans cites historical outbreaks tied to alterations in land use, emphasizing the need for caution as the Arctic experiences unprecedented changes.
As the race to exploit Arctic resources intensifies, scientists urge proactive measures to monitor, contain, and mitigate the potential threats posed by ancient viruses escaping the melting permafrost.
