Orange with 6Medias, published Wednesday 04 January 2023 at 18:20
The melting of the permafrost, the permanently frozen ground, of the North Pole has scientists fearing the release of multiple viruses that could be dangerous to the human species.
“Zombie” viruses dangerous for mankind? French, Russian and German scientists have managed to revive viruses buried in the frozen soil of Siberia for tens of thousands of years. In fact, thirteen of them were revived. This research was motivated by global warming, which has been melting the ice at the North Pole for several years. The results made it possible to deepen preliminary studies that had already been carried out.
For thousands of years, organic material from bacteria and viruses has been released from the permafrost. The number of bacteria released is much greater than that of viruses, falsely suggesting that there is no public health hazard. The study carried out is only a draft for the time being and has yet to be reviewed by other scientists. However, the experts are “justified in wondering about the danger that old virus particles remain infectious and are put back into circulation by the thawing of old permafrost layers”.
Thawing permafrost could pose a threat by releasing the bodies of people who died from an infectious disease years or centuries ago. In this way, past infections could be brought back to life. Many epidemics have traversed the centuries of human history, but for scientists it is smallpox, a disease now eradicated worldwide, that is of most concern. Their reintroduction could have disastrous consequences. Although smallpox was discovered on bodies buried in Siberia 300 years ago, this disease can only survive for a few decades, greatly limiting the danger.
This isn’t the first time such viruses, also called “zombie virus,” have been detected, as another pathogen was discovered in 2014. A year later, another was found. It is currently very unlikely that these millennia-old viruses pose a threat to humans, as they differ greatly from classic viruses.
Dangerous bacteria for humans?
Bacteria also worry scientists, like Bacillus anthracis, which causes “anthrax.” This plague poses more of a threat to livestock and herbivores. A wave of this epidemic killed 2,350 reindeer in 2016, a year that coincided with a very hot episode at the North Pole. One hypothesis favored by experts is that the carcass of a dead animal rescued from the permafrost would be the cause of the epidemic. The latter had led to the hospitalization of several residents. However, this anthrax is widespread on the planet and should not cause any serious consequences.
Don’t worry, but be careful
Other organisms that are more resistant to antibiotics could also be released. Resistance genes can actually be detected in the permafrost. However, these bacteria are unlikely to change the game as they are already present in the environment.
The studies are therefore rather reassuring, but urge caution. Nevertheless, the various researches carried out show that new types of viruses can emerge that can withstand time, but not enough to support the theories of a catastrophic scenario.