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A recent study warns that the warming Earth, coupled with heightened human activities such as shipping and mining in Siberia, could lead to the release of ancient viruses trapped in permafrost, potentially triggering a new pandemic. The viruses, dubbed ‘Methuselah microbes,’ have remained dormant in Siberian permafrost for tens of thousands of years but pose a risk of reactivation and the spread of diseases.
The research, conducted by scientists from Aix-Marseille University in France, underscores the potential threat of these ancient viruses being unleashed as permafrost thaws. The year 2023, marked as the warmest on record, increases the risk of permafrost melting and releasing these ‘zombie viruses.’
Geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie from Aix-Marseille University highlighted the oversight in pandemic threat analyses, primarily focusing on diseases emerging in southern regions and spreading north. Claverie emphasizes the need to address the possibility of outbreaks originating in the far north and moving south, citing the presence of viruses with the potential to infect humans and initiate new disease outbreaks.
Virologist Marion Koopmans of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam supports this concern, stating, “We don’t know what viruses are lying out there in the permafrost, but I think there is a real risk that there might be one capable of triggering a disease outbreak—say of an ancient form of polio.”
Permafrost, covering a fifth of the northern hemisphere, consists of frozen soil with layers that have remained frozen for hundreds of thousands of years. The cold, dark, and oxygen-lacking conditions in permafrost are ideal for preserving biological material, including ancient viruses.
The disappearance of Arctic sea ice due to global warming poses a significant risk to human health, according to Claverie. Increased shipping, traffic, and industrial development in Siberia, including extensive mining operations, may disturb deep permafrost layers and release pathogens. Claverie warns that miners could be exposed to these viruses, leading to potentially calamitous effects.
As the Arctic experiences rising temperatures at a rate three times higher than the global average, the study highlights the urgency of addressing the environmental impact on permafrost and the potential consequences for global health. Last year, scientists identified six ancient diseases trapped in permafrost, further emphasizing the need for proactive measures to prevent the release of harmful pathogens.
