Temperatures in the Arctic are rising, causing the permafrost to melt. Scientists have already discovered mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses in that permafrost, but there are also ancient viruses in that ice layer. How dangerous is this for the people and animals living now? Science expert Martijn Peters explains: “It mainly depends on how resilient the viruses are after years in the permafrost”.
It sounds like a science fiction story, but many scientists still warn about the consequences of the release of ancient viruses. The reason why animals and viruses are so well preserved in the permafrost isn’t just because it’s cold, it’s also an oxygen-free environment where light doesn’t penetrate. However, current temperatures in the Arctic are warming very quickly, weakening the top layer of permafrost in the region.
“Whether a virus can survive in those conditions depends on how well it can withstand extreme cold, for example, and for how long,” says science expert Martijn Peters, “Some microorganisms don’t survive this, others do.” For example, the smallpox virus can survive at -20 °C, but only a few decades and not centuries. “So what thawing permafrost could unleash depends on how resilient the viruses are. For unknown viruses, this is difficult to estimate for the time being,” says Peters.
Scientist Jean-Michel Claverie has already discovered several virus families in the permafrost and has resurrected two of them. The oldest was almost 48,500 years old. These were viruses that can only infect single-celled organisms. “They pose no threat to us,” says expert Martijn Peters, “But of course there is a chance that there are viruses in the more than 23 million km² surface area of permafrost that do target humans.”
A single gram of permafrost can contain thousands of ‘dormant’ microorganisms. For example, scientists have already found fragments of the smallpox and influenza virus. “What people mainly fear is that a new virus would emerge that our body is not yet equipped to withstand, such as SARS-CoV 2,” says Peters.
“Bigger problem”
“The fact that the viruses are still contagious after such a long time points to a potentially larger problem,” says Claverie. He fears that people will view his research as a scientific curiosity and not see it as a serious threat to public health. “We see these amoeba-infecting viruses as a portent for all the other possible viruses that could be in the permafrost,” Claverie told CNN. “We see the traces of many, many other viruses,” he added. “So we know they are there. We’re not sure if they’re still alive. But if the amoeba viruses are still alive, it is certain that other viruses can infect animals or humans.”
“It is not only viruses that we have to watch out for, but also bacteria,” says Peters. In 2016, there was an outbreak of Bacillus anthracis in Siberia. About a hundred people were hospitalized and 1 boy died of the disease. The bacteria had been released from the permafrost and infected reindeer. More than 2,000 animals died. You can contract anthrax/anthrax by eating contaminated meat. Moreover, scientific research shows that there is also a lot of resistance to antibiotics among bacteria found in permafrost, which can also be problematic.
“In the past, new outbreaks of pathogens were usually caused by the discovery of new unknown territory or too close contact between humans and animals,” says Peters, “But now scientists are also looking at a third track: the disappearance of ecological barriers that have left us thousands of or even protected against these microorganisms for millions of years”.
What can we do about it?
“It is estimated that by 2100 almost all permafrost could have disappeared due to climate disruption,” says Peters. “So the most impactful solution is to stop climate disruption and thereby prevent the massive thawing of the permafrost. Then the micro-organisms such as viruses stay in place,” explains Peters.
“In addition, you can of course also try to prevent people from coming into contact with the culprits. Currently only ‘a few million’ people live in the permafrost areas. But as the world warms up, that number may well increase,” he adds. “Finally, it is also interesting to do more research into the micro-organisms in the permafrost. The more one knows, the better. Working proactively is better than reacting,” concludes Peters.
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