The term "zombie virus" is often used in fiction and popular culture to describe fictional viruses that turn people into zombies.
It is not a real virus or a credible scientific concern.
discusses the potential risks associated with the thawing of permafrost in the Arctic due to climate change.
Specifically, it highlights the concerns related to the release of ancient viruses and pathogens that have been dormant for thousands of years. Here are the key points:
The warming of the Arctic due to global climate change is causing permafrost to thaw.
With the planet already 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times, it is predicted that the Arctic could become ice-free in summers by the 2030s.
The thawing permafrost is releasing ancient viruses and pathogens that had been preserved in the frozen ground for millennia. Some of these viruses have been found to remain infectious.
The emergence of dormant pathogens from the permafrost is a relatively unexplored danger.
The example of a 2016 heatwave in Siberia that activated anthrax spores, leading to infections and deaths.
In addition to viruses, multicellular organisms have been found to survive in an inactive metabolic state called cryptobiosis.
The release of these ancient pathogens raises concerns about global health, particularly the possibility of unknown infectious diseases against which humans have no immunity or drug therapies.
The rapid warming of the Arctic is impacting Siberia, with methane craters opening up and entire towns subsiding. Thawing permafrost also puts infrastructure at risk.
Thawing permafrost is estimated to put billions of dollars' worth of infrastructure at risk.
On the other hand, the region boasts abundant natural resources, and mining activities could bring humans into closer contact with potentially harmful ancient pathogens.
The dilemma of studying these threats lies in the potential for cross-contamination during sampling expeditions.
Global organizations and governments are becoming increasingly aware of these risks, with the United States Agency for International Development halting a project to search for viruses that could infect humans due to concerns about sparking a pandemic.
The virologist Jean-Michel Claverie, who has spent over a decade studying these issues, emphasizes the potential dangers of disturbing the frozen depths and argues for caution.
In summary, the thawing of permafrost due to global warming presents the risk of releasing ancient pathogens, including viruses, which could pose potential public health threats.