French scientists have discovered a 48,500-year-old ‘Zombie Virus’ trapped in the frozen Siberian lake in Russia.
The team of scientists, led by Jean-Marie Alempic, a microbiologist from the French National Center for Scientific Research, conducted a research study into 13 viruses that have been latent in the ice for thousands of years.
Each of these viruses is being thawed to analyse their impacts on public health.
So far, the most concerning one is the ‘Zombie Virus’ which scientists have discovered has the potential to be infectious.
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The scientists blame the discovery of these viruses on climate warming, warning that the world could see more pandemics in the future.
“Due to climate warming, irreversibly thawing permafrost is releasing organic matter frozen for up to a million years, most of which decompose into carbon dioxide and methane, further enhancing the free house effects,” the scientists stated in the study.
The study also adds that “Part of this organic matter also consists of revived cellular microbes (prokaryotes unicellular eukaryotes) as well as viruses that remained dormant since prehistorical times.”
The scientists also warned that the “revival of an ancient unknown virus” may be disastrous to plants, animals, or humans as a few lives have been claimed by the viruses.
