2023-11-24 07:13:43
Global Warming Could Unleash Deadly Viruses Trapped in Permafrost, Say Researchers
Scientists are sounding the alarm over the potential health threat posed by the increasing global warming, as previously unknown viruses and pathogens that have been trapped in frozen earth for thousands of years could be unleashed.
The term “permafrost” refers to ground that has been frozen for two or more consecutive years, with some areas in Siberia having remained frozen for over 650,000 years. Hidden within the permafrost are countless dormant microbial species, including viruses, that have largely remained a mystery.
Birgitta Evengård, a professor of infectious diseases at Umeå University in Sweden, expressed the need for more research into the permafrost, emphasizing that there is a lot that we do not know. Previous studies have provided brief insights into the viruses lying dormant in the permafrost, including the “Pandora virus,” which has managed to survive in frozen ground for over 30,000 years.
Researcher Jean-Michel Claverie, the leader of the Pandoravirus study, warned that if viruses that infect amoebas can survive in permafrost for so long, it strongly suggests that viruses that infect animals or humans could also remain infectious under the same conditions. Claverie further explained that when the permafrost thaws, we could see the release of viruses from extinct diseases such as smallpox and an accelerated spread of known diseases in today’s Arctic, such as tularemia and tick-borne encephalitis.
Evengård also pointed out the potential existence of pathogens in the permafrost that are completely unknown to us today, including ancient viruses for which we have neither natural immunity nor effective vaccines or treatments.
The uncertainty surrounding these potential threats has been dubbed “factor X” by researchers, highlighting the need for further investigation in order to understand the full extent of the health risks associated with the release of these ancient viruses and pathogens.
The future implications of the release of these ancient viruses and pathogens remain uncertain, but researchers are urging for increased awareness and further study on the potential health risks associated with global warming.
Source: Newsweek]
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