“Climate Change Could Release Ancient, Contagious Viruses from Permafrost: Research”

JAKARTA – Climate change threatens human life in many ways, one of which is a pandemic. A warming climate can release ancient pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses that the poles froze for thousands of years.

Jean-Michel Claverie says bacteria can remain dormant, but live up to 500,000 years in permafrost.

“This is the beginning of homo sapiens. Our species just appeared at that time,” said the Professor of Medicine Emeritus at the Aix University of Marseille France, quoted on Wednesday (10/5/2023).

Dr Claverie and a team of researchers, recently published their findings on seven ancient viruses found in Siberian permafrost. One is nearly 50,000 years old and still contagious.

He said scientists don’t yet know exactly how ancient diseases might affect living species, animals or humans.

In 2021, it was reported that more than 100 ancient bacterial strains found in the Siberian permafrost are resistant to antibiotics. The professor also said that this ancient disease could kill a hairy giant.

“This, I think, is very dangerous because mammoths are genetically very close to elephants. And elephants are genetically very close to humans,” said the professor again.