'Zombie virus': Does this newly discovered virus pose a threat to humans?

Scientists have uncovered an ancient virus that has been trapped in the Siberian permafrost for nearly 50,000 years. This discovery is raising concern about it could pose to humanity as frozen landscapes continue to melt with climate change. Researchers say more work needs to be done to determine how much of a risk, if any, these viruses pose.

The re-discovery

In all, 13 new viruses were identified by a group of scientists from the French National Centre for Scientific Research. After closing examining samples of permafrost collected from the Russian province, they found that one of the viruses has remained infectious after more than 48,500 years in deep permafrost. For now, it is thought that the virus, known as pandoravirus, poses no threat to humans.

However, the researchers caution of the possibility that similar pathogens that have been frozen for millennia could be unleashed as glaciers and frozen ground continue to melt in the face of global warming. In the study which is yet to be peer-reviewed, the scientists wrote:

Due to climate warming, irreversibly thawing permafrost is releasing organic matter frozen for up to a million years, most of which decomposes into carbon dioxide and methane, further enhancing the greenhouse effect.

Disturbing precedence?

This is not the first time viruses have been recovered from the permafrost. In 2021, researchers at Ohio State University reported the detection of genetic material from 33 diseases in ice samples taken from the Tibetan plateau that were estimated to be up to 15,000 years old.

The French scientists noted in their study that there has been limited research into 'live' viruses found in permafrost, adding:

This wrongly suggests that such occurrences are rare and that ‘zombie viruses’ are not a public health threat.

Sources used:

The Independent: How much of a threat do ‘zombie viruses’ pose to humans?

Sky News: 'Zombie virus' discovered after being trapped in Siberian permafrost for nearly 50,000 years