As global temperatures rise, the Arctic's permafrost is thawing faster than ever, bringing to light ancient viruses that have been dormant for thousands of years. Dubbed 'zombie viruses,' these Methuselah microbes were first discovered in Siberia in 2014, sparking both fascination and concern among scientists.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers in France successfully extracted 30,000-year-old microbes from 100 feet deep in the snow. While these particular viruses posed no immediate threat to humans or animals, experts caution that other, more dangerous pathogens could resurface as the ice continues to melt.
In response to this growing threat, an Arctic monitoring network has been established. This network is dedicated to detecting, responding to, and isolating any ancient viruses that emerge from the thawing frost, aiming to prevent potential pandemics before they can spread across human populations.
The implications of these findings are profound, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change not only for environmental reasons but also to safeguard global public health.
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Could 'Arctic zombie viruses' inflict deadly new pandemic on humanity?
cgtn.com
