Risk of new pandemics? Antarctica’s melting ice could release unknown disease-causing viruses

Humans consider themselves to be the dominant species in the world. planet Earth, above its nature and the risks it can pose. However, the history of the human race reveals our great vulnerability to the small living beings that numerically dominate the entire world.

The recent pandemic caused by a single virus to which we were not adapted, the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19, clearly highlights our fragility.

However, it is not just active viruses that pose a great risk to our species. There are latent threats around the world that have the potential to cause serious harm to human health.

Regrettably, we are facing the imminent possibility of triggering a large-scale infection scenario.

Human influence on the planet’s climate changes could result in alarming news: the thaw of permafrost in Antarctica, as indicated by recent research, could release pathogens thousands of years old, to which we have not yet adapted.

Study reveals that Antarctica is home to viruses that can cause new diseases

Photo: Maxi Dorado/Pexels/Reproduction

Recently, a study published in the journal Public Library of Science (PLOS) Computational Biology suggested that thawing permafrost in Antarctica could lead to the release of viruses that have been dormant for hundreds of thousands of years, potentially triggering unknown diseases and posing a threat to human health.

As described by the research authors:

“Permafrost thaw and laboratory leakage of ancient microorganisms pose risks of biological invasions to current ecological communities, including threats to humanity through exposure to emerging pathogens.”

Given this, a question is inevitable: is it possible that one of these pathogens released by worrying human action in the development of global warming could trigger a new pandemic?

Prehistoric virus pandemic?

The study authors used the measurement of potential risks of infections as a method. For this, the Avida software was used, simulating a hypothetical situation.

The results reported that around 3% of dormant pathogens could adapt to the current climate and survive the environment in which we live, becoming dominant throughout the world.

Even though it is a simulation, the researchers issued a warning about the real possibility of the substantial danger represented by these viruses, which could be transmitted through animals, reaching our society.