A new biological concern has been raised by scientists across the globe. According to the latest reports, the experts have issued warnings related to the dangers that can be posed by the viruses that were buried under the ice caps of the Arctic and other places. The concerns have been raised after Arctic permafrost started melting.

Scientists expect that the post-melting could release ‘zombie viruses’ and can lead to catastrophic global health emergencies, according to the report released by The Guardian. It is to be known that the ice caps have been melting because of rising temperatures due to global warming.

A better overview of the matter was provided by the scientists after studying the samples taken from permafrost last year. As per the data provided by the experts, the viruses have been living in the frozen ice for thousands of years.

What experts have to say!

A Geneticist of Aix-Marseille University – Jean-Michel Claverie, mentioned, “At the moment, analyses of pandemic threats focus on diseases that might emerge in southern regions and then spread north. By contrast, little attention has been given to an outbreak that might emerge in the far north and then travel south – and that is an oversight, I believe. There are viruses up there that have the potential to infect humans and start a new disease outbreak.”

In addition to this, the situation was addressed by the scientist of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam – Marion Koopmans, who can be quoted saying, “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. We have to assume that something like this could happen.”

An additional concern was raised by the team of scientists led by Claverie in Siberia in 2014. As per the reports, they emphasized that despite being buried in permafrost for hundreds of thousands of years, the viruses have the capacity to infect single-celled creatures. A similar concern was published the previous year, which outlined that some of the viruses could possess the ability to infect or harm cultured cells.

The sample of the viruses dated back 48,500 years, according to The Guardian.

While dealing with his matter, Claverie stated, “The viruses we isolated were only able to infect amoebae and posed no risk to humans. However, that does not mean that other viruses – currently frozen in the permafrost – might not be able to trigger illnesses in humans. We have identified genomic traces of poxviruses and herpesviruses, which are well-known human pathogens, for example.”

Deets about permafrost!

Permafrost covers approximately a fifth of the Northern Hemisphere. It is known to support the Arctic tundra and boreal forests of Alaska, Canada, and Russia.

Experts have expected that these viruses could act as ‘time capsules’ and are mummified remains of the extinct viruses or creatures.

Why did concern erupt?

The meteorologists have underlined that the temperature of the region has been heating up faster than the average rate of increase in global warming.

In this regard, Claverie mentioned, “The danger comes from another global warming impact: the disappearance of Arctic sea ice. That is allowing increases in shipping, traffic, and industrial development in Siberia. Huge mining operations are being planned and are going to drive vast holes into the deep permafrost to extract oil and ores. Those operations will release vast amounts of pathogens that still thrive there. Miners will walk in and breathe the viruses. The effects could be calamitous.”