The melting arctic permafrost may release ancient ‘zombie viruses’. Geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie advises readiness and a surveillance network to spot microorganism-related disorders. Since they lived on Earth a million years ago, modern humans are vulnerable to these viral invaders.
Recently, media reports warned that melting Arctic permafrost could unleash ancient ‘zombie diseases,’ causing a global health crisis.
Concerned geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Genomics at Aix-Marseille University, has called for preparedness to face this menace.
According to ‘The Guardian,’ Claverie said, “We must prepare for a real threat. As easy as that.” This terrifying potential has inspired specialists at the University of the Arctic, an international educational and scientific collaboration, to start a monitoring network. The goal is to uncover ancient microorganism-caused diseases before they spread uncontrollably.
Methuselah bacteria, often known as ‘zombie viruses,’ can survive for tens of thousands of years in frozen soil, which covers approximately 20% of the northern hemisphere. Medical professionals and scientists are concerned about the lowest layers of permafrost keeping viruses that lived on Earth up to a million years ago, before humans’ most ancient ancestors appeared 300,000 years ago. This leaves modern humans without natural immunity to prehistoric viruses.
A ‘zombie virus’?
Zombie viruses can survive for tens of thousands of years in frozen soil, covering roughly 20% of the northern hemisphere. Modern humans have no defense to these primordial viruses, which can spread diseases.
Modern humans lack natural protection to the ‘zombie virus’ why?
The deepest permafrost may contain viruses from a million years ago. About 300,000 years ago, humanity’ most ancient relatives appeared on Earth. Modern beings lack inherent immunity against archaic viruses.
Conclusion
The melting Arctic permafrost may release ancient ‘zombie viruses’, causing a global health crisis. Geneticist Jean-Michel Claverie, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Genomics at Aix-Marseille University, worries about these viruses spreading. The deepest permafrost may contain viruses from a million years ago, before humans’ most ancient relatives appeared 300,000 years ago. This leaves current humans without natural defense against prehistoric viral invaders, threatening global health.
